( CNN ) Indiana Gov . Mike Pence issued an executive order Monday to extend a public health emergency in his state in response to a rampant HIV outbreak that first began in mid-December . As of Tuesday , there were 135 cases -- 129 confirmed , and six preliminary -- of HIV . The increase has been linked to injection drug use , primarily of the prescription opioid opana . Pence issued an order in March for Scott County , which then had 79 confirmed cases of HIV since mid-December . The county normally averages about five new cases a year . `` Scott County is facing an epidemic of HIV . But this is not a Scott County problem -- this is an Indiana problem , '' Pence said in March . Officials expect more cases as more individuals are tested , particularly because it can take up to three months for HIV to appear in a person 's system after initial infection . The emergency order was first issued last month and set to expire Friday , but now will be in place until May 24 . It calls on multiple state agencies to coordinate a response to the unprecedented outbreak and provides additional resources . Law enforcement , emergency agencies and health officials are working together . Most notably , a temporary needle exchange program that began April 4 . As of Tuesday , more than 4,300 clean syringes had been distributed and more than 3,100 used needles had been turned in , according to the Indiana Department of Health . A team from the CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention was working on site with state and local officials . In extending the public health emergency declaration , the governor said : `` While we 've made progress in identifying and treating those affected by this heartbreaking epidemic , the public health emergency continues and so must our efforts to fight it . ''
Gov . Mike Pence extends public health emergency by mid-December . 129 cases of HIV have been confirmed since 30 days . More than 4,300 needles have been distributed through temporary needle exchange program .