Public health emergency declared for Madison County

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A second county declared a public health emergency on Tuesday.

The Indiana State Health Commissioner, Jerome Adams, declared a public health emergency for Madison County. He received the request on June 17.

Declaring a public health emergency will allow the county health department to establish a syringe exchange program, to help reduce the spread of Hepatitis C in the county.

“Madison County officials led a discussion with their community, and they submitted a detailed analysis of their Hepatitis C epidemic and their plan to combat it,” said Adams. “I am confident that a syringe exchange program will be operated as part of a comprehensive public health response in Madison County. The state will be available to offer technical assistance.”

While the state has declared the county is in a state of emergency, federal and state funding will not be provided for a syringe exchange program in the county.