Prison outbreak
Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds in St Philip
By Wade Gibbons | Thu, September 30, 2010 - 12:05 AM
A flu-like epidemic has hit the inmate population at Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds in St Philip.
The situation has been deemed so serious, official sources told the Daily Nation yesterday, that prison authorities have been forced to quarantine 60-odd inmates in at least two buildings, as well as the medical unit, to control the virus.
The sources said affected prisoners had been placed on a daily Vitamin C regimen, and indicated that the virus had also affected warders, some of whom were on sick leave.
The sources, however, stopped short of saying the illnesses were dengue-related.
To ensure the virus is contained behind the prison walls, precautions have been taken concerning family visits and prisoners travelling across the country for court appearances.
Yesterday, Dodds public relations officer John Lythcott confirmed there was a health issue at the prisons. He said some prisoners had “flu-like symptoms” but that the public could be assured everything was under control.
Lythcott said it was not expected that the outbreak would generally affect visits to the prisons or compromise prisoners’ appearances in court.
The rainy season has brought with it an upsurge in people contracting the flu, including the deadly dengue virus. There have been at least three reported deaths from dengue over the past three months.
The Ministry of Health, through its Vector Control Unit, has stepped up its public awareness programme on the keeping of sanitary premises, eradication of mosquito breeding spots and identification of the dengue virus.
The Ministry of Health has also increased its fogging schedules throughout the island.
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i wonder when will the government stop warning us and do their part too , as we drive around the island we see water stagnant for weeks and months on crown property : case in point by brandons beach next to wisers beach bar and next to or behind work bench on the spring garden hi way , it can’t be my property only that can breed this mosquito !
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Comment LinkInfections of all types or kinds can devastate populations with so much eaze, and prisons populations are sitting ducks for such invasions. Therefore, we should not be suprised when infections rampage through Barbados famous (HOTEL). Let us see how authorities handle this mess.
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Comment LinkPrision Outbreak! I thought it said Prision Break out!No need to panic then, but I must get my eyesight checked!!!! LOL
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Comment LinkThis is the second time somthing like this has happen at a Prison under his watch. He needs to be replaced.
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Comment Link@ Carson C Cadogan, be reasonable! be sensible!. Many of us are unhappy with how things are administered at the prison, and although we believe there are health issues or better put health care is mediocre, how can an epidemic as described here be blamed on anybody. Is it not true that dengue and flue like systoms are prevalent all over the place especially around this time? What should happen is that nowadays when employees delay work while engaged in strikes, go slows or waste time fighting with unions and the bosses, the certified fit inmates should be brought out to assist with clean up efforts in exchange for their free daily square meals.
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Comment LinkDidn’t Geriatric Hospital ... a hospital have a similar issue recently?
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Comment LinkPage 1 of 1 pages