Updated: One offender dies after viral outbreak at Putnamville

Monday, January 25, 2016

PUTNAMVILLE ­-- Department of Correction officials continue to battle a flu-like illness after one Putnamville Correctional Facility offender died Friday after being hospitalized with flu-like symptoms

Facility Superintendent Brian Smith announced the outbreak on Sunday afternoon, saying a number of offenders are suffering from progressive viral-like symptoms, with several patients rapidly progressing to severe shortness of breath and pneumonia-like symptoms.

On Monday, 14 others were hospitalized at Terre Haute Regional Hospital, which is where the inmate was when he died. Cause of death was determined to be pneumonia, according to an autopsy conducted Monday at Terre Haute.

There are 25 patients under observation, 11 in the Putnamville facility's health care unit, 14 at Terre Haute Regional's detention center, while four were admitted to their ICU unit.

Currently, facility staff is overseeing several intervention methods designed to prevent the further spread of disease, such as replacing approximately 75 air handling filters, providing masks and hand sanitizer to staff and offenders upon request, and wiping down all common areas with a bleach solution.

Offenders began coming down with viral-type symptoms at the beginning of last week, which is not unusual for this time of year. As part of the Indiana Department of Correction's (IDOC) influenza control plan, these men were admitted to an observation unit.

As their symptoms worsened, a number were sent to the hospital.

Nine other men remain under close observation at the prison.

Those under observation displayed a variety of flu or pneumonia-like symptoms, including fatigue, joint aches, sweats, cough and sore throat.

Those in the hospital are receiving specialty consultation and supportive care. One man is reportedly on a ventilator for support.

IDOC and facility medical staff have engaged the Indiana State Department of Health and Center for Disease Control and are working closely with these agencies to identify the specific causes of the illnesses and offer expertise in the management of this situation.

Visitation at the Putnamville facility has been canceled until further notice.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: