Re: Officials investigate pneumonia outbreak in TX federal prison
Defintiely bacterial, as the cases respond to antibiotics. Obviously, the fact that many of the cases recovered months ago is the main reason this investigation is taking so long (apart from background noise). Also, the term "probable" pneumonia tends to make me suspect that the ill may not have gotten that good medical care (they are prisoners, after all) as many of them apparently did not have X-rays taken that would confirm pneumonia.
http://www.bigspringherald.com/content/view/205439/60/
Officials cite 35-40 cases since November
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Pneumonia outbreak investigated at FCI Big Spring
By THOMAS JENKINS
Staff Writer
Officials at the Big Spring Federal Correctional Institution say representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Texas Department of State Health Services are at the facility helping to track down the cause of a recent outbreak of pneumonia.
According to information released by Big Spring FCI, health officials arrived at the prison Tuesday and are working with the Bureau of Prisons staff to collect data on the outbreak, which has affected between 35 and 40 of the facility's 1,707 inmates.
“(These agencies are) working with the BOP staff to collect data regarding the recent cases of pneumonia among the inmate population and to assist us in identifying measures to possibly prevent future cases of pneumonia,” reads a press release issued by Big Spring FCI.
“
Since November the institution has identified approximately 35-40 cases of probable pneumonia — from an inmate population of 1,707. Those diagnosed with pneumonia were housed apart from the general population,
responded well to antibiotics, and all have either recovered or are in the process of recovering.”
Officials with the local prison said inmates are being educated on necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of germs — for example, hand washing.
According to the most recent update from the facility, the institution remains under normal operation at this time, with only inmate transfers to other prisons suspended.
“In an abundance of caution, the BOP has temporarily halted inmate institution transfers out of the facility in order to ensure that the illness does not spread to other BOP institutions,” reads the report. “Inmate visitation has not been affected.”
Selma Garcia, public information officer for the Big Spring FCI, said neither the CDC or TDSHS have expressed any concerns the outbreak could spread into the surrounding community.
“They are treating this as an institutional problem and haven't expressed any concerns that the community might be in danger,” said Garcia. “They are working to try to determine the cause of the pnuemonia, and once they have made that determination we'll be taking steps to keep this from spreading any further.”
Garcia said the
BOP is not taking any special precautions with its guards or other employees that come in contact with the inmate population.
“I can assure you that any steps we are taking to protect the inmates we're also taking to protect our employees,” she said. “However, I'm not aware of any special procedures being taken at this time.”
Garcia also confirmed there have been no deaths attributed to the pneumonia outbreak.
Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at
citydesk@bigspringherald.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Last Updated ( Friday, 19 February 2010 )
