seattle.indymedia.org

Contagious Disease Outbreak at Northwest Detention Center

author: Timothy Smith
Oct 13, 2009 14:02

An outbreak of an unknown infectious disease is on-going at the Northwest Detention Center requiring special handling procedures for residents and staff.

B Pod at NWDC Oct 08

Some form of contagious disease is causing enhanced precautions at the Northwest Detention Center located on the Tacoma Tarpits Superfund site. Over the weekend, visiting families, some coming from as far away as Portland, were turned away and told that an outbreak of a flu-like disease was on-going. Even though the persons they were coming to visit were not ill, they were still prevented from visiting.

Guards are reportedly wearing green face masks in the facility and these were confirmed by observations of guards on break outside of the facility with masks hooked to their belts. Those held inside, reportedly, do not have masks and are using socks and other items of clothing to cover their faces.

Some reports indicate a partial quarantine is in effect although a medical officer at the facility denies this. The official confirmed that there is an outbreak of flu although no testing for more deadly strains like H1N1 of Avian flu is being conducted. Severe cases are being monitored in the medical unit but the official could not confirm if this was flu or Tuberculosis.

As reported:
"When one person in a pod becomes ill with a communicable disease, other pod residents are placed under some restrictions in that their movement out of the pod is restricted for 7 days. They are still allowed to see visitors since there is no direct contact with the visitors. There can be delays in bringing the restricted people to the visitor because of the special steps that are required. As far as attorney visits are concerned, they will tell the attorney that the resident can come to see him, but must wear a mask. The attorney can reschedule or see his mask-wearing client. There is no requirement that the lawyer wear a mask."

The Pierce County Health Department has been notified and is working to confirm and clarify the situation.

The privately owned and privately operated facility has a checkered past when it comes to managing disease outbreaks such as measles and food poisoning and is loath to provide prompt notification to the public. Health care is managed by the Public Health Service, Division of Immigration Services.

add a comment on this article

Comments

wouldn't it be fascinating....
Posted by: from burrs dreams at Oct 14, 2009 14:41

like one of those doom and gloom movies, its THE killer infection. they consider nuking or at least napalming the entire place. Then they realize that the staff is infected and they go round up the staff, the staffs family members. the neighbors or last weekends date in some cases............join us next week for the next adventure in "what goes round comes back with a vengance"

illegal
Posted by: s at Oct 15, 2009 13:48

when one is processed the staff never verify in time whether some one is sick or not.. they pretty much have to collapse and then sometimes there is doubt... its a tragedy that one can destroy so many others while the repreesion still presses with a blind eye

UPDATE
Posted by: Larry the Radical at Oct 16, 2009 15:55

All,

The following is an email exchange with the Pierce County Health Department about the current influenza outbreak at the NWDC.

Mr. Turner,

Thank-you for the prompt reply. We are aware of the role of the Public Health Service and understand their
difficult task in protecting the health of all that are impacted by this event. A special concern is noted because in
prior instances of health situations at the facility (Measles and food-borne illness) a general lack of candor
was exhibited by those responsible.

We are also concerned because of the number of potential high-risk category visitors (children and the elderly) coming
to a facility with the potential for contamination. The facility is currently undergoing an expansion with large numbers of
contractors and other individuals coming and going on a daily basis. We understand the procedures in place and conditions for
isolation are intended to preclude such exposures, but even in the best of circumstances and in the most controlled environments
contagions can spread and get out of control quite quickly.

We also understand that in times like these the most important tool for disease prevention and awareness is validated information-
not rumor or inflamatory rhetoric - and only sought out confirmation through your office to verify what had been passed from
other sources.

I appreciate once again your quick response.

Timothy Smith
Chairperson, Bill of Rights Defense Committee - Tacoma

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:59:08 -0700
From: NiTurner@tpchd.org
To: xxxxxxxxxx@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Disease Update at the NWDC

Mr Smith,

Please note that the public health services at this facility are provided by the federal United States Public Health Service. Our discussion with the facility was for the purpose of gathering information to help with communicable disease surveillance activities and to determine if additional assistance were required. For additional information I would refer you to the US Public Health Service.

I talked with Commander Gephardt of their health services unit regarding this issue:

They reported that they currently have about 2 people with influenza-like illness. They are not sick enough to need hospitalization and so, consistent with guidance from this department, are not required to be tested for H1N1. Those that are sick are pulled into a separate treatment area. However, according to their standard protocol using the US Public Health Service guidelines for correctional facilities, those that share a unit with people with influenza -like illness are cohorted and on restricted movements and when they leave the unit they are required to wear a surgical mask. Currently 4 units are in this state as a precaution. Visitation is still being allowed, however because of the restricted movements, it may take longer for visitors to see an inmate who is on quarantine. They indicated that they did not need any assistance.

Currently, we are seeing a high level of influenza-like illness in the community. Laboratory data suggests that almost all of the influenza in our community would be H1N1. The level of influenza-like illness reported at the facility is consistent with what we are seeing in the community.

I hope this is helpful, let me know if you have any questions.

Nigel Turner RS, MPH
Public Health Manager
Communicable Disease Control
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
3629 South "D" Street, MS 421
Tacoma, WA 98418-6813
Phone: (253) 798-6057
Fax: (253) 798-2067
E-mail: niturner@tpchd.org

* My incoming and outgoing e-mail messages are subject to legal
disclosure *

seattle indymedia center

Newsfeed

Get Involved

Search

Information

IMC Network

Contagious Disease Outbreak at Northwest Detention Center