‘Measles’ downs 12 inmates

Officials of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center are suspecting that the source of a possible measles outbreak inside the jail was a guest of the facility during its Christmas party last year.

Twelve inmates started to experience fever, cough, inflamed eyes and other symptoms after a Christmas Family Day party on Dec. 25, 2018, CPDRC warden Reynaldo Valmoria said.

“Katong nag-family day, diri baya tanan. Usa to kay nagsagolsagol na diri. Ug sa panahon pud daw kuno, ingon sa doctor,” Valmoria said.

But it could not be confirmed yet if the inmates contracted measles. Measles is a contagious infectious disease with symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose and inflamed eyes.

The Department of Health (DOH) 7 personnel already took the inmates’ swab and blood samples on Thursday, Jan. 10, to determine if they are indeed down with measles. Laboratory results will be released within two weeks.

Valmoria assured the inmates are not in serious condition and have taken medications.

Meanwhile, other inmates who are suspected to have measles are still with other healthy inmates in one cell.

CPDRC has a population of 3,497 inmates, of whom 263 are women. The jail facility was built for a capacity of 1,600.

Valmoria said they have difficulty in finding vacant spaces in CPDRC where the sick inmates will be placed in isolation.