Goodluck – Chicken pox outbreak at HM Prison under control

Officer in charge of the Prisons, Linus Goodluck, has said the outbreak of chicken pox, which occurred last month at the prison, is under control.{{more}}

One inmate on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison who chose anonymity, penned a letter to SEARCHLIGHT earlier this week, claiming that the prison is infected with the Chicken Pox.

The letter read, “… about 20 inmates (have) pox and the officers who dealing with the prisoners don’t know what they are doing, so the pox is spreading all over the prison.”

The letter claimed that the prisoners with the chicken pox are made to mingle with other inmates in general population.

While confirming that there had indeed been a breakout of about 12 – 15 cases of Chicken Pox at the prison early last month, Goodluck said all appropriate measures had been taken to control the spread of the disease.

“All of those inmates were quarantined and were not among the general population. That inmate is just just telling lies in his attempt to have the magistrate grant him bail,” Goodluck said.

In the event of a disease outbreak, Goodluck says the Ministry of Health is immediately contacted to deal with the problem.

Goodluck disclosed that several nurses visited the prison along with Epidemiologist Dr Jennifer George.

“That is a blatant lie. There is no factual base for his statement. We would not mix persons affected with Pox with those who don’t have,” he noted.

When contacted, Dr George said since the last outbreak, she has not learnt of any other Chicken Pox cases from the prisons.

George told SEARCHLIGHT in the event of that such a matter is reported, an initial assessment is made and then recommendations are provided. She stated that measures such as washing of bed sheets daily, the use of hand sanitizers and disinfectants are key in preventing the spread of the disease.(KW)