|
|
| Ala. Inmates Test Positive for TB |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 02/13/2006 |
|
Alabama state health officials said last week that 26 inmates at Ventress prison in Barbour County have tested positive for tuberculosis, though no actual cases of the respiratory disease have been confirmed. Health officials began testing 331 of the 1,650 inmates at the prison six weeks ago after one inmate was suspected to have TB, said Charlotte Denton, director of the tuberculosis control division of the Alabama Department of Public Health. The 26 who tested positive on their skin tests were evaluated for TB symptoms - including weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever and night sweats - and given preventative medication by a prison physician, Denton said. While the 26 are considered to be infected, they don't have the full-blown TB disease, said Scott Jones, field officer for the TB control division. "A person with the infection alone poses no threat to other persons," Jones said. The inmates' movements around the prison were temporarily restricted so they could be evaluated, not because they were considered a threat to others. The 305 inmates who tested negative will be retested as a precaution, Jones said. Employees at the prison were also tested, but neither official was able to say how many. They stressed that TB is both treatable and preventable. Prisoners are tested for tuberculosis infection when they enter the system, and each year thereafter. Denton said it's still too soon to determine how the inmates were exposed and that officials would need to identify a known case to find the source. Between 2000-2004, 21 cases of TB were reported among Alabama's 27,000 prisoners, making up only 1.6 percent of the 1,276 cases reported statewide. Denton said improvements have been made to control and treat TB at the prisons in recent years, especially in completing preventive therapy. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Facebook profiles that have custom GIFs, stories, and user generated content get the highest engagement according to social media experts. When users look for social networks, the first one that is often thought of is Facebook. This is where people can build relationship networks. The hub of modern life can be attributed to these networks because of the market research, brand awareness, and lead generation that they can provide. The Hamilton Lindley channel shows what he is doing now and helps people and organizations connect online to share information and ideas.