300 inmates sickened by virus
State: Beeville unit outbreak's source likely in cafeteria
By David Kassabian
December 4, 2007
A contagious gastrointestinal virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea,
abdominal cramps and nausea has infected about 300 inmates at
Beeville's Texas Department of Criminal Justice McConnell Unit, a
department spokeswoman said Monday.
A single inmate likely contracted Nov. 27 what was later diagnosed as
Norovirus -- known for proliferating in nursing homes, schools and
cruise ships, according to a Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention fact sheet. The likely first inmate infected had a work
assignment at the prison's cafeteria, which may have played a role in
the virus spreading to about 100 inmates by Saturday and 300 by
Monday, said Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman
Michelle Lyons.
"Fortunately, this is not common," Lyons said. "(The virus) can
spread quickly -- it would be similar to folks living in a dorm or
other area where there is close quarters."
In addition to the 300 inmates diagnosed by Monday, seven staff
members at the prison were diagnosed, Lyons said. Prison officials
restricted the movement of diagnosed inmates, disinfected the
inmates' cells and temporarily barred visits from inmates' family and
friends.
Also, infected inmates will be barred from working in the cafeteria
for 30 days after their symptoms subside. Texas Department of State
Health Services officials were called in Friday and found no infected
food samples, Lyons said.
The incubation period for norovirus-associated illnesses is usually
between 24 and 48 hours, and symptoms usually last 24 to 60 hours,
according to the CDC.
Most inmates are being treated with over-the-counter medications,
with about 12 needing IVs, Lyons said. An inmate suffering from
diabetes required hospitalization, she added.
The McConnell Unit houses about 2,800 male inmates. Its clinic
handles ambulatory medical, dental and mental health services and is
managed by the University of Texas Medical Branch.