| Gastrointestinal Virus Affects SRCI |
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| Stomach Virus |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2004
Contact:
Perrin Damon, (503) 945-0925
Amber Campbell, (541) 881-5056
Thirty-three inmates in the minimum custody facility at Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario have over the past 24-hours presented symptoms of a stomach virus. Prison officials, in conjunction with local and state public health authorities, are approaching the outbreak with plenty of fluids and a high dose of caution.
Two inmates were initially transferred to the prison’s infirmary; one has since been returned to the minimum custody facility.
“After first contacting the public health department, we immediately took steps to isolate, identify, control, and begin to address the symptoms of this virus,” explained SRCI Superintendent Jean Hill. “Because gastrointestinal viruses are contagious, we are limiting contact between inmates in the minimum facility and the outside.”
The primary symptoms of the virus are vomiting and diarrhea. The primary means of prevention are isolation and good hygiene. Incubation generally takes about 36 hours after exposure and the symptoms last between one and two days.
As a result, the prison will not be sending its minimum-security inmate work crews into the community. Since the next scheduled visiting day is Saturday, visiting between inmates and family/friends is not expected to be affected.
Within the minimum-security unit, inmates who are affected are confined to their bunks. Affected inmates and non-affected inmates are eating at different times, and affected inmates’ meals are being served on disposable plates.
Health services staff assigned to the minimum facility are also being restricted to working in that facility until the virus runs its course. They are monitoring patients’ vital signs and ensuring that they drink plenty of fluids.
There is no way to determine how the virus was introduced into the prison population. However, the state health lab is analyzing stool samples from some inmates to determine which virus is responsible.
“The good news from the health authorities is that for most people, the virus is not dangerous,” said Superintendent Hill. “These kinds of viruses are self-limiting, but we’ve been advised to be cautious for a few days to reduce the chances of it spreading.”
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