Prevention strategy focuses on HIV epidemic in Indiana

On March 25, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence declared a public health disaster emergency after a substantial number of HIV diagnoses were reported in Scott County. According to the CDC, the majority of cases were linked to syringe-sharing partners. Approximately 10% of the population in Austin, a rural community in Scott County, inject opioids on a daily basis, the release said. Since last year, 184 new HIV infections were diagnosed in the community of 4,200 residents.

Researchers implement HIV ‘Treatment as Prevention’ model

To curb the spread of infection, researchers from the Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in British Columbia will employ the “Treatment as Prevention” model, which involves strategies and technologies that have previously shown to increase access to early and continuous HIV care and reduce stigma, according to the release.

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