May 20, 2009 6:00 am US/Eastern
Prison Outbreak? 4 More Have Swine Flu At Rikers
Bloomberg Confirms, Says 4 Others Are Probable For Virus
QUEENS (CBS) ―
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Four inmates at Rikers Island have been confirmed to have the swine flu and four more are considered probable for the virus, Mayor Michael Bloomberg confirmed Tuesday morning.
"Correction and health officials are monitoring the situation and preparing to implement additional health screening and where needed, isolation of ill inmates," Bloomberg said. "It is in some senses easier to control because obviously the prisoners can't leave on the other hand, it is also a confined area where we really don't have the choice of moving people out and asking them to stay home."
Corrections Officers' Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook has suggestd since Friday that inmates and staff from the Ann M. Kross Center, as well as the North Infirmary Command, be transferred to other jails until the city completes a full investigation. Seabrook has called on the city to immediately close any facilities where swine flu has been discovered so they can be thoroughly cleaned.
"The entire facility needs to be decontaminated ... just like any other facility under the watch of the mayor," said Seabrook, after a Rikers Island inmate was first hospitalized on Wednesday.
The inmate, whose name and reason for being in custody weren't released, was improving since his hospitalization and wasn't in serious condition, Department of Correction spokesman Stephen Morello said.
The inmate entered the 2,600-inmate Anna M. Kross Center about a month ago and complained of cough and fever, Morello said. He was transferred to Elmhurst Hospital in Queens and on Friday was diagnosed with a probable case of swine flu, Morello said.
Meanwhile the number of New York City schools ordered closed amid rapidly growing fears of swine flu has grown to 26 after the Health Department announced 13 more schools will shut down around the city.
Symptoms of the swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek health care and treatment. The best way to prevent additional cases of flu in schools is to stay home when sick, cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing, and wash hands frequently.
For those who are ill, the recommendation is to stay home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
Eating pork or pork products cannot spread the swine flu.
Q&A: What Is Swine Flu?
CDC Swine Flu Facts Sheet
Learn At Home Student Guides
CBS News Interactive: Fighting The Flu
CDC Emergency Updates Via Twitter
Swine Flu Twitter Live Search Results
David Burnia's Swine Flu Watch On Twitter
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