SAN QUENTIN — Aug. 30, 2015 — A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak has sickened several prisoners at San Quentin State Prison, according to latimes.com.
Six prisoners have tested positive for the disease, while 50 others have fallen ill with symptoms, noted the article. "The first inmate was diagnosed on Thursday and taken to a nearby hospital."
In an effort to contain the source of the bacteria, officials shut off taps and showers and replaced toilets with portable ones, stated the article. Toilet service has since been restored after public officials said the fixtures were likely not the source of the bacteria.
Until the source of the outbreak is found, visitation and volunteer programs are suspended, reported the article. Medium- and high-security inmates must stay in their cells because staff cannot adequately monitor movements while conducting the investigation.
About 3,700 inmates live at San Quentin, and 1,800 employees work there, shared the article. None of its 700 death row inmates have shown symptoms of the disease, which begins with fever, headache, chills and cough.
Nearly 350 Legionnaires’ cases were reported in 2014 in California, more than half of which occurred in Los Angeles County, noted the article.
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