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May 07, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Maryland Prison Infection Rate High"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (05/07/03) P. B1; Goldstein, Avram

A new blood survey released by Maryland health officials indicates that almost a third of the inmates entering the state's prison system are infected with hepatitis B or C, HIV, or syphilis, or a combination of these diseases--a much higher rate than that of the general population. Hepatitis C is the most common infection in the state's prisons, with 29.7 percent of prisoners infected, according to the study from the Maryland AIDS Administration.  Liza Solomon, director of the agency, says that the higher rate of disease among inmates will affect the public health in general because the inmates will eventually be released into the community.  Maryland inmates are treated for HIV and syphilis, but they are not routinely given hepatitis B vaccinations or treatments for hepatitis C, for which there is currently no vaccine. 

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