A Salmonella and Hepatitis A outbreak at the Crow Wing County Jail in Minnesota has been announced by the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office. The number of those sickened has not yet been released. We also do not know the ages of patients or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division was notified on September 26, 2019 that one inmate tested positive for hepatitis A. This virus is very contagious, and can be spread person-to-person, through contact with surfaces, and through contaminated food and drink. Officials do not know the source for the virus.
Jail medical services staff, Crow Wing County Pubic Health, and Guide Point Pharmacy of Brainerd, Minnesota have been vaccinating inmates and employees who may have been exposed to prevent more illnesses. In addition, medical services staff are monitoring inmates for symptoms of hepatitis A.
The symptoms of hepatitis A include jaundice, dark urine, clay colored stools, pain in the abdomen, fatigue, low-grade fever, and joint pain. These symptoms typically appear about 15 to 50 days after exposure. And people are infectious for two weeks before they even know they are sick, which makes controlling outbreaks more difficult.
On October 1, 2019, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division was notified of a possible gastrointestinal illness outbreak. One inmate tested positive for a Salmonella infection. Other inmates and staff have reported intestinal illnesses. The source of the bacteria has not yet been determined.
The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include a fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that may be bloody and/or watery. Symptoms typically begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure. This bacteria can be spread person-to-person as well as through contaminated food and drink
You can contact Minneapolis food safety attorney Fred Pritzker for help with Salmonella food poisoning or hepatitis A by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, “While outbreaks at prisons and jails are not unusual, outbreaks from two different pathogens at the time time is uncommon. Prisons present special challenges in food poisoning outbreaks because of potentially crowded conditions. We hope that these outbreaks are solved quickly to prevent further illnesses.”
