The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 20, 2009

Rubenstein: Flu in prisons is under control

Mannix Porterfield

CHARLESTON — Influenza has reared its nasty head in two of West Virginia’s prisons, but Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein feels the situation is under control.

So far, the worst scenario unfolded at Ohio County Correctional Complex, where 64 inmates and about 14 staffers came down with flu.

A few cases also flared at Mount Olive Correctional Complex.

Rubenstein said his agency moved swiftly to counter the brief outbreak at both institutions.

“We quarantined the facility (Ohio County), cut off movement and visitation, and everything,” he said.

“That went on for about a four- or five-day period. We just got word from the administration that everything is back to normal.”

Ohio County posed the only serious threat of a viable outbreak within a prison, he said.

At Mount Olive in Fayette County, only a handful of inmates and a few members of the staff were stricken.

“It’s not been an issue that has altered our way of doing things,” Rubenstein said.

“It was not a problem. Everything has been able to be handled at the medical unit.”

Flu is a concern among penal authorities since large numbers of people are confined to limited space.

Rubenstein said not all inmates will be administered the vaccine for H1N1 when it becomes available.

“We’ll use the same criteria as in the public, identifying those at risk,” he said.

“So I think that we’ll probably end up vaccinating about 25 percent of the inmate population.”

Rubenstein said the Division of Corrections would adhere to the standards set by the Centers for Disease Control in administering the vaccine.

That means inmates with known health problems, such as asthma, will be given the vaccine.

“So far, knock on wood, I’ve been very fortunate, and we’ve been able to handle it,” Rubenstein added.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

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