TB case is confirmed at prison

Inmates and staff at the state prison in Lancaster will be tested and evaluated for tuberculosis after a case of the disease was confirmed at the facility, officials said Thursday.

“We take it very seriously,” said Lt. George Allen, a spokesman at the prison. “That’s why we’re in full lockdown.”

Testing is set to begin today and will be conducted by medical staff and continue for as long as necessary, “depending on what they are able to determine,” Allen said.

Details of how the disease was contracted were “not available for release,” Allen said. But he confirmed that the infected individual was a staff member.

An investigation was underway to try to identify “staff and inmates who may have had close contact with the active TB case,” according to a statement issued by state prison officials. The facility houses nearly 4,600 inmates and employs about 1,900 people.

Inmate movement is being restricted, and visitations have been suspended for this weekend, officials said. The suspension could be extended.

No prisoners will be received or transferred out until testing is completed, officials said. Inmates were being notified and educated about the TB-testing process on the institution’s television education channel.

Visitor information is available at (661) 723-8333.

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