Response To Syphilis Outbreak Continues In Southwestern Indiana

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    Indiana Department of Health and Vanderburgh County Health Department provide free testing and treatment in the community through the holidays

    EVANSVILLE – The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) and the Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD) continue to respond to an outbreak of syphilis near Evansville. Health officials are providing access to free testing and treatment to individuals in the community, especially those who are most at risk for infection. Since Nov. 16, outbreak response efforts have included community outreach to more than 2,700 homes and businesses to provide syphilis education and resources and testing of almost 1,000 individuals for syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the field, on mobile units, and at the VCHD. 

    Over the holidays, the VCHD will continue to offer testing for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis C and treatment for syphilis at no cost for patients and they’re exposed sexual or needle-sharing partners at the VCHD Specialty HIV/STD Clinic, 420 Mulberry St., Evansville. The clinic’s hours of operation will be posted on its website, as well as on its Facebook page. The clinic will be closed Friday, December 24th, Monday, Dec. 27, Friday, December 31, and Monday, Jan. 3, in observance of the holidays.

    “We have been fortunate to have some great community partners step up during response efforts and open their doors to allow a space for community members to be tested and treated for syphilis and HIV during a very critical point in the outbreak,” said Jeremy Turner, director of the IDOH Division of HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis. “A huge thank you to organizations including Matthew 25, AIDS Resource Group, Evansville Rescue Mission, Aurora, Ozanam Family Shelter, United Caring Services and the Vanderburgh County Jail.  We could not have conducted such successful testing events without your support!”

    Community canvassing and outreach testing will resume Monday, Jan. 10. Updates to locations of mobile units and other outreach testing events where free syphilis testing and treatment will be offered will continue to be posted on the VCHD’s Facebook page.

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