On Thursday, Dr. Jerome Adams, health commissioner of Indiana, announced a state public health emergency in Scott County that will be effective through May 24 next year. According to reports, Southeastern Indiana has about 150 confirmed cases in a HIV outbreak.

According to reports of Indiana Public Media, the HIV outbreak has hit hard Indiana's Scott County and officials decided to continue to operate a needle exchange program for about one year. That order had expired on Sunday. During a public hearing earlier this week, no one stood against the program, the reports stated.

Adams said on Thursday, "We have had over 1,400 services utilized at the One-Stop Shop in Austin, all at no cost to the individual, including more than 300 people who have signed up for the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0". Every person related to the program has worked responsibly, according to Adams. He also thanked partners at the state, local and federal level who supported during the emergency.

Brandon Terry, 31-year-old resident of Scott County who visited the community outreach center and tested negative for HIV, said the needle-exchange program has benefitted him and others like him.

Reports say a number of people who may have been infected with HIV might have no symptoms at all. To make sure, they should get tested, according to health experts. They said that in a month or two of entering the body, more than 40% people start experiencing flu-like symptoms. There are chances that some people will not experience symptoms for years.

Early symptoms could be swollen glands, night sweats, diarrhea, fever, cough, weight loss or shortness of breath.