INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WOWO): A total of 158 cases of HIV have now been identified in the Scott County area.

Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams says with the rate of new cases having dramatically slowed, he hopes the peak is finally close.

According to a press release, there is still more testing to do and more high-risk individuals to contact. In Scott County, the majority of HIV and Hepatitis C cases have been connected to needle-sharing among drug users.

In the release, Dr. Adams says, “I would like nothing better than to tell you this unprecedented HIV epidemic will never happen again anywhere else. But I can’t do that. What I can do is encourage everyone to try to stop the at-risk behaviors that contributed to our current situation in Scott County.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with the State Department of Health to educate the public on substance abuse, safe sex, and addiction treatment options.