Indiana, US, is declaring a public health emergency to battle the worst HIV epidemic in the history of the state.

On Thursday, Mike Pence, the governor, issued the order for Scott County. There are 79 confirmed cases of HIV since mid-December here. Scott County averages five new cases a year.

According to a report, Pence said, the county is facing an epidemic of HIV. This is an

Indiana Problem and not a Scott County problem, he added.

The cases in the current outbreak are connected to injection drug use.

According to the declaration, the law enforcement, health officials and emergency agencies are required to develop a response plan which includes health care providers and hospitals too. A team from CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention arrived recently. It is working with the local and state health officials to deal with the outbreak.

They have recommended public awareness campaign, shot-term needle exchange program and treatment and testing of HIV.

HIV may take up to three months to appear in the system after the person has been infected. The health officials have recommended that people who have been involved in risky behaviour such as unprotected sex or needle sharing must be tested for HIV now as well as after three months.