39 Inmates Secluded On Measles Suspicion

Friday, August 24, 2001

By WILL VASH
The Ledger

BARTOW -- Some inmates didn't have their day in court Thursday because they were quarantined at the Central County Jail.

Thirty-nine inmates have been confined to their cell block at the Central County Jail in east Bartow until jail officials know whether one inmate in the group has the measles, Polk County sheriff's officials said.

The Sheriff's Offices enforced the quarantine at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and officials said the inmates must stay in their cell block until it is lifted.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Michal Shanley said jail officials expect to have test results by this morning that will confirm whether the inmate contracted measles.

Shanley didn't identify the inmate.

She said jail officials think the inmate may have had contact with someone with the disease before entering the jail system. She said she did not know when the inmate entered the jail.

Some court cases had to be rescheduled Thursday because of the quarantine, Shanley said.

Sheriff's Maj. Dale Tray said the last known case of a contagious disease in the jail system was the appearance of chicken pox about six months ago at the Polk County Sheriff's Office Juvenile Boot Camp.

Tray said chicken pox and the measles pop up periodically but are quickly dealt with.

"If it is the measles, we're going to make sure it doesn't spread," Tray said.

Dr. Daniel Haight, director of the Polk County Health Department, said officials are waiting for the results of the test before any inmates in the cell are moved.

"From what they described to us, it doesn't look like it (measles)," Haight said. "So many other illnesses can look like measles, but they aren't as big a concern."

Scarlet fever and German measles have symptoms that can mimic measles, he said.

Measles in adults can be more serious than in children. Encephalitis is a possible complication, which can lead to death or damage to the central nervous system.

Shanley said if the inmate tests positive for measles, all of the inmates in the cell block will probably remain together until the disease runs its course.

In an unrelated incident, a woman who was booked into the jail Wednesday had sores on her body from the measles. Jail officials said the sores were no longer open and did not pose a threat to other inmates.

Ledger reporter Robin Williams Adams contributed to this report. Will Vash can be reached at will.vash@theledger.com or 863-802-7550.