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Putnamville illness identified as influenza, MRSA
PUTNAMVILLE -- An outbreak of influenza at Putnamville Correctional Facility, coupled with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, has been identified as the cause of the pneumonia that killed an inmate on Friday.
In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, officials from the Indiana Department of Correction and Indiana State Department of Health identified the illness as H1N1 influenza.
Furthermore, the inmates who have fallen extremely ill have suffered from bacterial pneumonia brought on by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
To this point, 35 offenders have shown flu-like symptoms. Of these, 18 have been in the hospital at some point. The balance have remained in observation at the correctional facility, isolated from the general population.
Putnamville Superintendent Brian Smith said as of Tuesday afternoon, 13 men remained in the care of Terre Haute Regional Hospital. Two of these are on ICU -- down from four on Monday -- with one still breathing with the aid of a ventilator.
Additionally, five or six staff members have fallen ill. Two of these individuals were hospitalized for their symptoms, but released the next day.
No staff members have been critically ill.
Officials say the original patients showing symptoms began to fall ill on Jan. 16 and were placed in observation. Two days later, two men began showing worse symptoms and were transferred to Terre Haute Regional.
One of them, a 35-year-old offender from Mexico, succumbed on Friday to what has now been identified as pneumonia.
The biggest challenge to prison officials in dealing with the outbreak has been correctly identifying the cause of the illness in order to properly treat it. Positive identification did not come until this past weekend.
In the meantime, extra measures were taken to ensure handwashing and sanitizing among offenders and staff members, and increased sanitizing of surfaces with bleach, germicide and other cleaners.
Additionally, all offender visits and transfers in and out of the prison have been stopped until the outbreak is fully under control.
"Our staff have done a good job," Smith said in a Tuesday afternoon press conference at the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post. "They're troopers. They're still coming to work. The offenders have been good. They're receptive to what we're doing."
IDOC Medical Medical Director Dr. Michael Mitcheff also praised what he called "an oustanding job of containing this" from the Putnamville staff.
"We've done everything possible at the site to prevent the spread," Mitcheff said. "I think the superintendent was as proactive as anyone I've seen."
Now that positive identification has been made, State Department of Health Epidemiologist Pam Pontones said officials can move forward with effectively treating the illness.
"Now that we know what the cause of this illness is, various measures can be taken to prevent the spread," Pontones said.
Besides the measures already taken before identifying the illness, officials can now treat those who fall ill with Tamiflu.
If offenders begin to show flu-like symptoms, they are moved into the observation area for treatment. At the first sign that it could be pneumonia, further measures are taken, including transfer to Terre Haute Regional.
"The stakes are so high that if they get this pneumonia, they need to be treated as soon as possible," Mitcheff said.
The question remained over what risk, if any, the outbreak poses to the general public, particularly with staff members who work at the facility, but then go home into the community.
In response to these questions, Putnam County Health Department Health Officer Dr. Robert Heavin issued a statement regarding the illness.
Besides reiterating what was said during the press conference, Heavin reminded the public of the normal precautions taken for the flu, including frequent hand washing, covering coughs with a sleeve or into the elbow, increased disinfection of common-use surfaces and masks and gloves for for anyone who must go into public while ill or who must come into contact with an ill person.
"Per the Centers for Disease Control and ISDH, at the first signs of feeling ill, please see your health care provider," Heavin continued. "The Putnam County Health Department currently has a supply of the flu vaccination available to the public. This vaccine does include the H1N1 strain."
On site, staff members, as well as healthy inmates, have been issued masks and hand sanitizer. Staff members have also been advised to act quickly if they think they are getting ill.
"If you get the first sign of feeling bad, get to your doctor," Smith said.
It is worthy of note that of the 35 inmates who have fallen ill, 32 turned down the flu vaccine when it was offered back in October, so one of the main forms of prevention, vaccination, apparently worked in this case.
About half of the inmates took the vaccine originally, so it has been offered to offenders and staff again, with only about half of the remaining population taking it.
While forcing offenders to take the vaccine is not an option, Mitcheff said it could be another story for IDOC staff members in the future.
"That's something we do need to look at is mandating (vaccination)" for custody and healthcare staff, Mitcheff said.
Whatever form it takes, Smith said the department will take a hard look at the influenza plan.
"We're going to prepare harder with the influenza control plan," Smith said. "I've been doing this for 37 years and never seen anything like this."