San Quentin State Prison has imposed restrictions on hundreds of inmates because of an influenza outbreak in the West Block housing unit, a health care spokeswoman said.
The outbreak started with one patient on Feb. 14, said Liz Gransee of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. As of Thursday, the two-week spate included five confirmed cases and 15 suspected cases, Gransee said.
The West Block housing unit has more than 800 inmates, or nearly a fifth of the prison population.
The prison sequestered the West Block inmates from the rest of the prison for programs and dining. It also suspended visits for West Block inmates.
The exception is for legal advisers, who can visit as long as their clients are asymptomatic. The West Block prisoners who have legal visits must wear medical masks.
Gransee said inmates are offered shots for flu season, but they are not mandatory.
“The commonality of illness during influenza season in our prison system compares to the general public,” she said.
The prison will lift the restrictions Monday if no new cases are confirmed.
The impact on the staff is unclear because prison employees who call out sick are not required to state a reason.
Dr. Matthew Willis, the county’s public health officer, said health department officials has “less direct control over outbreak response in San Quentin, but do offer support at their request.”
“They’ve generally been proactive and appropriate in their response,” he said. “The setting itself, with so many gathered in close proximity, is a set-up for spreading illness like flu. Outbreaks like this are always a concern.
“One of the most important strategies to prevent outbreaks is vaccination,” Willis said. “In Marin I’ve issued Public Health Officer order that all health care workers be vaccinated against flu, or wear a mask while at work. This helps protect medical staff from illness so they can continue to provide care, and helps prevent spread to inmates.
“This is in effect throughout flu season annually for all health care facilities, and San Quentin staff are subject to this order. For staff who might object, we can point to outbreaks like this as an example of how important it is to take every precaution.”