Hepatitis C outbreak prompts Madison County needle exchange

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) – Another Indiana county is asking the state for a needle exchange program.

Madison County today declared a public health emergency in response to a growing Hepatitis C outbreak

Health officials there say they’ve seen a steady increase in cases during the last three years.

“You got people exchanging bodily fluids and risking their health and other people’s health,” said Nanette Brooks, as she walked through downtown Anderson.

The Madison County Health Department reported 130 people diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2014, nearly double the number from 2013.

“When you have increased Hepatitis C rates, then you need to be aware that HIV could soon follow,” said Kellie Kelley, the HIV/Hepatitis C Program Manager at the Madison County Health Department.

With state approval, the declaration allows them to set up a needle exchange program.

“If nothing else, we want to provide a clean environment when they do inject,” said Susan Maier, the Director of Outpatient Services at Aspire Indiana.

Maier says 90 percent of new Hepatitis C and HIV cases are linked to injection drug use. She says a needle exchange program can provide them with some cover as they get people into treatment.

Aspire Indiana is working with the county to establish the program.

“We are here to help each other and that’s what I think we’re doing by providing resources and providing assistance and hopefully providing recovery for people in the future,” said Maier.

In Scott County, more than 25,000 needles have been handed out since March. Injection drug use there infected 169 people with HIV since the winter.

“Whatever your philosophy is about addiction, its an illness,” said Maier.

In addition to needles, they hope to also offer testing, treatment, and information on how to get health insurance.

Kelley says the county will present its proposal to the state Wednesday, the state then has 10 days to review it, they can either approve or have further discussion. Kelley says the plan is to have the program up and running by late summer.