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Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/05/health_officials_investigate_o.html
Health officials investigate outbreak at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville
By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
May 04, 2010, 4:12PM
Oregon health officials are investigating a rash of illnesses that has partially closed public visiting to Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville
The first were reported last Wednesday when four inmates who live in the same housing unit came down with gastrointestinal symptoms. The women in that housing unit were isolated but the number of sick patients grew, with about two dozen falling ill so far, said Jana Wong, spokeswoman for the facility.
It's not clear what's making them sick, though norovirus is a prime suspect, said William Keene, senior epidemiologist for the state Public Health Division.
All of the sick inmates live in the prison's minimum-security building, which currently houses about 600 women. The medium-security section, with about 900 women, is in a separate area. The prison also holds the Department of Corrections intake center for men.
The prison closed visits to the minimum-security section only.
Many of the patients have come down with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, though some reported respiratory problems as well, Keene said.
No staff member has gotten sick and no inmate has needed outside medical care, Wong said.
A flu outbreak hit Coffee Creek in 2007. In Oregon, there have been 21 outbreaks in jails or prisons -- what medical professionals call desmoteric clusters -- since 2000...
Health officials investigate outbreak at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville
By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
May 04, 2010, 4:12PM
Oregon health officials are investigating a rash of illnesses that has partially closed public visiting to Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville
The first were reported last Wednesday when four inmates who live in the same housing unit came down with gastrointestinal symptoms. The women in that housing unit were isolated but the number of sick patients grew, with about two dozen falling ill so far, said Jana Wong, spokeswoman for the facility.
It's not clear what's making them sick, though norovirus is a prime suspect, said William Keene, senior epidemiologist for the state Public Health Division.
All of the sick inmates live in the prison's minimum-security building, which currently houses about 600 women. The medium-security section, with about 900 women, is in a separate area. The prison also holds the Department of Corrections intake center for men.
The prison closed visits to the minimum-security section only.
Many of the patients have come down with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, though some reported respiratory problems as well, Keene said.
No staff member has gotten sick and no inmate has needed outside medical care, Wong said.
A flu outbreak hit Coffee Creek in 2007. In Oregon, there have been 21 outbreaks in jails or prisons -- what medical professionals call desmoteric clusters -- since 2000...
