N.Y. Inmate's Pox Undetected

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By Newsday

Published: 07/02/2003

A Rikers Island inmate infected with chicken pox lived in the jail system's general population this month, even working in a kitchen, before he was transferred to a secure medical ward.
The inmate, Jesus Martinez, 22, arrived at Rikers on June 2, but he was not admitted to the Communicable Disease Unit until June 20, officials said. He worked in a food service area for two days.
Correction Department spokesman Thomas Antenen said, 'There has been no subsequent outbreak of chicken pox.'
Questions remained over when and how Martinez contracted the contagious disease and why his condition was not uncovered either in the required medical screening when he entered Rikers or in a second medical review when he was assigned to work in the kitchen.
Jail sources said much of his body already was covered with the telltale rash caused by the disease when he was admitted to the medical facility on June 20.
Ernesto Marrero, the executive director for Correctional Health Services, a division of the city Health and Hospitals Corp., said he could not comment on an individual case without a waiver from the patient. In general, he said, an investigation takes place when a communicable disease is identified.
Martinez, a native of Puerto Rico who came here for drug treatment, was arrested May 28 on drug possession and probation charges and was transferred to Rikers on June 2, the Bronx district attorney's office said. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on June 6 to 90 days in jail, with a discharge date of Sept. 4.
Michael Rubin, a Legal Aid Society lawyer who represented Martinez, said he did not recall his client complaining of chicken pox in their two brief meetings.
When Martinez arrived at Rikers on June 2, he was assigned to the Anna M. Kross Center, sources said.
Antenen said Martinez entered the Eric M. Taylor center on June 11. On June 18, he was sent to work in the kitchen there, which, sources said, provides meals for 2,000 inmates.
'Inmates who work in the kitchen have to be cleared by medical staff and he was cleared,' Antenen said.
On June 20, Antenen said, the disease was identified, and Martinez was transferred to the special medical ward.
Chicken pox is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus. Symptoms include a red, itchy rash on the face, chest and back, fever, runny nose and fatigue.

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