H1N1 in Jails, Prison

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Source: http://www.wreg.com/wreg-prison-illn...0,858889.story

Prison Visits Suspended

Rachel Duncan

5:58 AM CDT, June 23, 2009
FAST FACTS

* Visits Temporarily Suspended at Federal Prison in Forrest City, AR
* Suspension because of Illness Outbreak
* Prison is where Rapper T.I. Is Serving Yearlong Sentence

(Forrest City, AR 06/23/09)

Authorities say visits with inmates have temporarily been suspended at the federal prison in Forrest City because of an illness outbreak.

The prison says visits have been temporarily suspended because of a number of inmates with a "suspected gastrointestinal virus."

Prison officials say they don't yet know what's sickened the inmates, but that they don't suspect swine flu. A prison official says visiting hours will resume once the virus is contained. The prison in Forrest City is a low-security facility housing male inmates, including rapper T.I., who is serving a yearlong sentence on a weapons charge.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Copyright ? 2009, WREG-TV

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Source: http://www.wgal.com/health/19845164/detail.html

Swine Flu Case Confirmed At (PA) Detention Center
Dauphin County Officials Believe Case Is Isolated

POSTED: 12:00 pm EDT June 24, 2009
UPDATED: 1:04 pm EDT June 24, 2009

SWATARA TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A resident at Schaffner Youth Juvenile Detention Center in Swatara Township is recovering from swine flu.

Dauphin County officials said the resident became ill nine days ago.

He has been isolated and has almost fully recovered.

Officials believe the case is isolated.

There are about 1,400 confirmed cases of swine flu in 41 Pennsylvania counties, according to the state Health Department.

[thebes]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/story/1116369.html

South Miami-Dade prison confirms 13 swine flu cases
Health officials confirmed that 13 female inmates at Homestead Correctional Institution have swine flu and one has been hospitalized.
BY FRED TASKER
ftasker@MiamiHerald.com

An outbreak of swine flu at a South Miami-Dade women's prison has infected 13 inmates and hospitalized one, health officials said Friday.

Homestead Correctional Institution has suspended visits and stopped accepting or releasing prisoners.

The development came as federal officials on Friday talked about plans for a possible fall vaccination campaign that could involve an unprecedented 600 million doses of vaccine.

''The flu is not going away,'' said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She said the official U.S. count of 27,717 cases of H1N1 flu is ''really just the tip of the iceberg,'' and the true count may be as high as one million cases.

In a Friday news briefing, Schuchat urged local communities to start planning now to vaccinate their most vulnerable residents -- those under 25, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions -- next fall, if federal health officials decide it's necessary.

Still, Schuchat said the swine flu remains mild so far.

The cases at Homestead Correctional Institution were confirmed between June 19 and Thursday, said Dr. Fermin Leguen, epidemiologist for the Miami-Dade Health Department. Most of the cases are mild, he said.

VISITS ON HOLD

Social visits have been suspended, and confirmed cases from all five dormitories are being housed in one area separate from other inmates, according to Jo Ellyn Rackleff, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections.

The facility is not receiving or releasing inmates, she said.

The facility was built in 1976 or house minimum- and medium-security male inmates, but turned into a female facility in 1999. Inmates are serving terms for such felonies as grand theft, credit card fraud, aggravated battery, second-degree murder and cocaine sale.

Maximum capacity is listed on its website as 668; it lists the current population as 678.

Rackleff said no swine flu has been reported at other state prisons in Florida.

A smaller outbreak two weeks ago resulted in similar precautions at the federal Krome detention center, where family visits and inmate intake and release remain suspended. One more case was confirmed Friday at the West Dade facility -- a staff member -- bringing its total to six. An additional 20 detainees have flu-like symptoms, but cannot be tested for swine flu because they have been given antiviral medicine, which invalidates such testing.

Swine flu cases continue to rise in Florida, with 942 cases and two deaths, but Leguen said precise counts no longer are relevant. When the health department finds 13 cases at one facility or six at another, it stops further testing to confirm swine flu, he said.

That's because they know it's in the population, and those with symptoms and those in close contact are being treated with antiviral medicines.

At the Atlanta CDC briefing, Schuchat said nearly 99 percent of all flu cases diagnosed now are swine flu, not regular seasonal flu. The highest rates of flu are in those under 25. The median age of those who have died is 37. The most serious consequences are for ''people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease and people who are pregnant,'' she said.

Another concern is swine flu in summer camps, she said. ''We are aware of 34 outbreaks of the H1N1 virus in 16 states'' involving camps, she said.

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Work center inmate in Idaho gets swine flu
Associated Press - June 26, 2009 3:34 PM ET

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A work center inmate in Idaho has come down with the swine flu, prompting correction officials to place him in an isolation unit.

At least five more inmates at the South Idaho Correctional Institution Community Work Center near Boise have flu-like symptoms, too. They're being treated and evaluated.

Protective masks are being distributed at the facility, which is being thoroughly disinfected.

Idaho Department of Public Health is advising the prison system on measures to control spread of the disease.

This month, state health officials said they'd confirmed more than 20 cases of swine flu in Idaho.

U.S. health officials said Thursday swine flu has infected as many as 1 million Americans.

Earlier this month, inmates at federal prison in Tucson, Ariz., were quarantined after 12 prisoners developed flu-like symptoms. And last week, a 50-bed housing unit at the Utah State Prison was under quarantine after three male inmates tested positive for the virus.

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Source: http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonma....asp?ID=429296

SWINE FLU BREAKS OUT AT PRISON (UK)
by JAMES BRINDLE

AN INMATE at Sudbury Open Prison has been diagnosed with swine flu ? the closest reported case to Burton and South Derbyshire so far.

News - Sudbury Prison The prisoner has been isolated, according to officials, and ?contingency plans? put in place.

It is believed to be the first case of the disease inside a jail, although there have been hundreds of cases in the West Midlands due to multiple outbreaks in Birmingham, as well as in Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

The prison holds more than 500 inmates, many of whom are allowed out on day release and home leave ? and have been known to travel regularly into Burton.

Dr Bruce Laurence, deputy director of public health for Derbyshire County Primary Trust (PCT), told The Mail that the prison had plans in place to deal with the outbreak.

He said: "The Health Protection Agency has informed HM Prison Sudbury that a prisoner has tested positive for influenza A, H1N1v, also known as ?swine flu?.

"The prisoner, who is now in isolation, has received the appropriate medical care and is responding well to treatment. Close contacts of the prisoner have received antiviral drugs as a precaution.

"We can reassure everyone that the prison is working normally. Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust and HM Prison Sudbury have established plans in place to deal with cases of swine flu and will continue to monitor the situation and react to any further cases as necessary."

A villager living near the prison told The Mail it was ?worrying? to hear the disease was now on their doorstep.

He said: "This pandemic is worrying as a second person has just died in Britain. What is even more worrying is that it is now on our doorstep. But I hope that every

Cont?d on Page 3

[thebes]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

California: A dozen San Joaquin County inmates test positive for H1N1 virus
By Roman Gokhman
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 06/30/2009 07:31:55 PM PDT
Updated: 06/30/2009 07:31:56 PM PDT


FRENCH CAMP ? Twelve inmates in the San Joaquin County Jail have tested positive for the H1N1 virus, that county's sheriff's office announced Tuesday.

The infected inmates had flu symptoms and were seen by jail nurses and doctors. They were isolated and tested by the county's Public Health Department. The confirmation was made Tuesday.

The infected inmates were placed in isolation to contain the virus and are receiving treatment.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_12727494?nclick_check=1

[thebes]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

800 at San Quentin quarantined for swine flu
Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, July 3, 2009

(07-02) 20:16 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- About 800 San Quentin State Prison inmates have been quarantined - banned from having visitors starting this weekend - as officials await testing on 30 inmates suspected of having swine flu, authorities said Thursday.

So far, four of the 30 minimum-security inmates have tested positive for having a strain that has a 97 percent probability of being the H1N1 virus, said Luis Patino, spokesman for the federal receiver who runs state prison medical care.

It will take about 10 days to confirm if the results are indeed swine flu. Meanwhile, the quarantined inmates will be barred from having visitors and will be kept confined to the single cell block where the suspected outbreak occurred.

Patino said the prison system is taking a more measured approach compared with a response to a swine flu case in May, which forced a 10-day ban on prison visits statewide.

"This time, we have a more measured response and we are doing that because we know that this is a highly virulent strain and because we know much more about how to confine the virus and how to handle the symptoms," Patino said.

The prison has a population of 5,200 inmates.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/02/BANF18IJCA.DTL&tsp=1

[thebes]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

San Diego County Jail Inmates And Employees Showing Symptoms Of Swine Flu

The local swine flu outbreak has now hit two San Diego county jails.

Law enforcement officials say 56 inmates and 11 employees are showing symptoms of the swine flu.

The 45 men are being quarantined at Donovan State Prison, and 11 women are quarantined at Las Colinas. The symptomatic employees have been sent home.

More than 1,000 inmates have been exposed, and for now visiting is on hold at all county jails.

The swine flu death toll in San Diego County is now at seven. According to the County Health Department, two more people died from the H1N1 virus over the past two weeks - a 57-year-old man and a 64-year-old man.

Both had underlying medical conditions.

http://www.760kfmb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10720214

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Source: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...flu-97356.html

(Ireland)
Prison staff face jail quarantine over flu

By Scott Millar

Monday, July 27, 2009

PRISON staff could face being quarantined in their workplaces if there is a serious outbreak of swine flu in the country?s jails.

This is one of several emergency situations currently being discussed by a high-level government committee tasked with drawing up contingency plans to cope with a swine flu pandemic among Ireland?s 4,000-plus inmates.

Health officials fear that, if the spread of the H1N1 virus accelerates at as fast a pace as it has in Britain, the country?s public services will face their greatest challenge in decades.

A serious outbreak of the virus in the country?s overcrowded prison system would cause particularly severe problems. An Irish Prison Service (IPS) spokesman said: "At a corporate level, the IPS is acutely aware of the possible adverse impact of a swine flu outbreak at prison level and an IPS Contingency Planning Group is considering necessary steps which may have to be considered in the event that significant numbers of cases occur within the prison system, either involving staff or prisoners."

The IPS has secured supplies of paracetamol, personal protective equipment, hand sanitising gels and disposable tissues. Arrangements have also been made with the HSE for access to Tamiflu through contracted community pharmacists.

However, the Prison Officers? Association is pushing for their members to be included in the first wave of frontline workers to receive a vaccine for the flu, whose spread is expected to reach its height between September and December. By then it is expected that one million people in Ireland could be infected by the virus, although it is expected the vast majority will be successfully treated at home.

In the event of a major outbreak, hospitals will be inundated and the Inter-Departmental Committee on Public Health Emergency Planning is considering the possibility of opening special clinics to deal with those suffering from the virus.

HSE national director of population health Dr Patrick Doorley said it was inevitable people will die from the virus in Ireland, he added that he "would not be surprised" if a fatality happened within days.

It is believed up to 26,000 people may need hospital treatment for the virus over a four-month period.



This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, July 27, 2009

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/i...79-virus-swine

(Orange Co., California)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Jail lockdown continues because of swine flu
County officials are waiting for additional test results of inmates to decide whether to lift lockdown at Men's Central Jail.
By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
The Orange County Register


SANTA ANA ? Men's Central Jail continues to be on lockdown for the third day today and inmates' movement at the county's other jails continues to be limited after five inmates were found to be infected with the swine flu, authorities said.

County health officials said they are waiting for the results of several tests which will determine whether other inmates have been infected with the H1N1 virus, and a decision on possibly lifting the lockdown will be made later today.

Five inmates at Men's Central Jail have been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus since Thursday, prompting officials to lock down the facility Friday evening, said Lt. Brian Shmutz, commander of the Intake Release Center.

The inmates that have been diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus have been segregated from other inmates and are being treated at the jail's medical ward, he said.

During the weekend, inmates were not allowed to see any visitors and confined to their holding cells. Inmates will be closely monitored for symptoms of the virus.

Officials with the county's health care agency will be re-evaluating the quarantine today, he said.

Deanne Thompson, spokeswoman for the Health Care Agency said no additional swine flu cases have been confirmed, but test results on additional inmates are pending.

According to the state's Department of Public Health, 11 people have died in Orange County because of the swine flu ? the most of any county in California.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361

[Thornton]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

The Florida Department of Health distributes real time epidemiologic reports to public health providers and registered clinicians. The members of the network are asked not to re-distribute the reports unless explicitly permitted.
All the reports are generated by local providers who may report to local media. The majority of the public health reports are not reported by the media. I do not know the reasons.
I summarize here the institutions that I can recall that have been affected in the past month. The purpose for sharing this information is 1) show how widespread the H1N1 is 2) show the good news that in general the outbreaks are contained once recognized and 3) encourage more sharing on institutional lessons learned as we prepare for a greater threat in the fall.
Prisons and jails in Florida affected in July include Homestead CI, Suwanne CI,
probably Lancaster CI (juvenile), Pinellas jail (women) Orange County jail, and Marion county jail. On the more recent outbreaks they appear to have limited the use of Tamiflu to treatment only or more significant at risk personnel.
When visitation restrictions are imposed those are usually announced on the facility web site.
Joe Thornton MD

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

3 Naples jail inmates test positive for swine flu

Associated Press - July 29, 2009 7:34 AM ET

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - Three Collier County Jail inmates have tested positive for swine flu.

The inmates are being treated under medical isolation. Four other inmates are also being treated with flu-like symptoms.

The jail is making sure steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of additional cases by sanitizing all the areas where the infected inmates came into contact with and staff there are being reminded to wash their hands.

Last week, the Florida Department of Health reported a total of 2,915 confirmed cases of swine flu. Another 22 residents infected with the virus have died.

[Thornton]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Post by JimO Cross linked from Texas thread

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126536

________________________________________
Source: http://www.khou.com/news/local/crime...1b66cd3fd.html

Officials: Swine flu likely killed Harris County Jail inmate

06:22 PM CDT on Friday, September 25, 2009

By Rucks Russell / 11 News

HOUSTON?The Harris County Jail is reporting what is believed to be the first confirmed death of an inmate due to the swine flu.

Jail officials told 11 News Friday that an inmate became ill early this week, and was transported to Ben Taub Hospital for treatment. They say Kenney Beckett, 27, died Thursday night from complications related to swine flu. The official cause of death has not been determined.

Jail officials say they do not believe the facility has suffered a widespread outbreak because Beckett was in an isolated area and had little contact with other inmates.

Still, the jail?s chief medical officer has sent a letter to the Texas Department of State Health Services, requesting the jail be placed on a priority list to receive the H1N1 vaccine. The vaccine is expected to become available during the first week of October.

Once the vaccine is received, officials say the plan is to inoculate all inmates and jail personnel.

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Source: http://www.herald.ie/national-news/c...s-1898404.html

(Ireland)
Jails prepare for swine flu booze parties
By Charlie Mallon

Monday September 28 2009

Prison authorities are wary that inmates may be hoping to raise a toast to swine flu.

The alcohol-based hand cleansing gel which has been made available in work places and institutions to combat the spread of the virus can be used to brew up a potent concoction.

While staff in prisons have been supplied with the gel the Irish Prison Service has not supplied it to inmates in the country's overcrowded jails -- so far.

A spokesman said: "However, in the event of an outbreak of Influenza A [H1N1] among the prison population the Prison Service will issue gels, in line with international and national guidelines."

Frontline officers in the jails believe that inmates are already wise to the potential for creating a new alcoholic brew.

Much of the hand cleansing gel distributed in Ireland carries a clear message that it is alcohol based.

"Prisoners here have shown ingenuity in the past -- so if and when the authorities bring the raw materials in for them, they do not pass up the opportunity," said a senior officer.

"This gel is practically pure alcohol and the rumours circulating are that it can be diluted with fruit, water and sugar to give it a reasonable taste while retaining the buzz."

Tomatoes

In the past, using their contacts on the outside, prisoners have had drugs placed inside tin foil and then secreted them in tomatoes which were thrown on to the wire mesh over prison yards. Crows and other birds pecked the tomatoes, releasing the tin foil wrapped concoctions which fell into the exercise yards in time for collection during recreation.

A similar plan involved hiding the tin foil wraps in cubes of ice, which melted after being thrown on to the mesh.

In Britain, one prison authority where the alcohol-based gel is supplied has already uncovered a brewing operation among inmates.

Peter McParlin of the British Prison Officers Association said the inmates at the jail in the south west of the country were using it to make illicit alcohol.

The gel had been distributed throughout the prison to stop the spread of the swine flu virus.

But he warned that giving inmates access to a gel with an alcohol content was not a good idea and the authorities at the Verne jail in Dorset banned it.

cmallon@herald.ie

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 in Jails, Prison

Source: http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/62606527.html

Posted: 11:38 AM Sep 29, 2009
Swine Flu Outbreaks Low At Bay County Jail (Florida)

H-1-N-1 swine flu is popping up everywhere, this time at the Bay County Jail.

Jail officials say they have seen their fair share of the virus in the last month and are patiently awaiting the release of the flu vaccines.

Bay County Jail administrators say they have seen swine flu or symptoms in at least eight inmates in the month of September.

"What we're finding through the literature through the Centers of Disease Control is that anyone who has flu right now pretty much has the swine flu," says Jail Doctor Ron Lippman.

He says those eight cases are low compared to what it could be.

"We're having a very low spread of this virus going around right now," says Lippman.

"We're just thankful that so far we've only had eight cases," says Warden Rick Anglin.

But as the winter months progress both men are expecting more outbreaks. In the mean time, it's back to the basics. Every corner you turn at the facility there seems to be hand sanitizer or a sign reinforcing hand washing.

"That's very important because the way this virus is spread is through hands to the face," says Lippman.

Another way the jail is preventing the spread of the virus is through respiratory isolation.

"If an inmate is suspected of having the H1N1 or even flu like symptoms they're brought here and quarantined for at least 24 hours."

But Dr. Lippman says he's not too worried because the Bay County Health Department has confirmed the jail will be one of the first facilities to receive the vaccine next month.

"When the immunizations are available, but we will provide it not only for the staff members, but as well as the inmates," says Lippman.

Lippman also says H1N1 was first detected in the U.S. in April of last year, just two months it became an international pandemic.

His advice to everyone inside and outside the jail: don't worry, but certainly don't take it lightly.

Dr. Lippman also suggests staying clear of someone who is actively coughing.