Numbers of patients triples in mumps outbreak

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This article was published 16/09/2017 (3265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An outbreak of mumps at the Brandon Correctional Centre has staff worried as the number of cases more than tripled in the past few weeks.

A correctional centre staff member, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing their job, said the number of confirmed cases had gone to nine from two in a two-week period, with three more cases waiting to be confirmed as of Thursday.

One of those confirmed cases is a staff member.

“It may be small numbers, but it’s still not small potatoes to us,” the staff member said. “Staff at the centre are biting their nails… we want to exhale, but we can’t.”

Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms, swollen and painful salivary glands, swollen cheeks, difficulty chewing, swallowing or talking, and loss of appetite.

Mumps can be spread through the air and by sharing of food or drinks. It can also be contracted by touching something previously touched by an infected person.

Staff are concerned there aren’t enough reactive measures or preventative measures happening at the medium/maximum security centre that houses both men and women.

“The clean up and the follow up for these communicable diseases is really poor, as far as we’re concerned,” the staff member said, adding other inmates are given a mask and put in charge of wiping cells down with disinfectant after an infected inmate leaves the area.

A quarantine area has also been set up in a disassociation cell next to a staff office less than 10 feet away. Infected inmates are required to wear face masks at all times, the staff member said, but it doesn’t always happen.

“At one time, we had three guys in one cell with the mumps… they were hot and sweaty and they were tired of wearing their face masks so they took them off while we’re serving them meals,” the source said.

The mumps cases started in the kitchen, the staff member said, adding to the concern with how quickly it’s spread.

“We hear (the inmates) during meal time, they’ll say things like, ‘Mmm, spaghetti with a side of mumps.’ They know what’s going on… I have yet to have anyone refuse a tray from the kitchen… but they’re aware it’s there.”

A spokesperson for Manitoba Justice confirmed via email there have been a small number of inmates who have shown symptoms or tested positive for mumps, adding to date those symptoms have been flu-like and relatively minor, and the effect on operations have been minimal.

When asked to comment further — specifically on staff concerns — the spokesperson said BCC is following public health advice on appropriate cleaning and other management protocols.

“All of our correctional centres have health and safety representatives who are encouraged to raise employees’ concerns with management. Though mumps is a recent example, the management of infectious diseases is an ongoing part of daily operations in all of our facilities,” the spokesperson wrote.

Requests for a further interview with the superintendent of BCC or an official with Manitoba Justice were declined.

The staff member said several people have completed workplace health and safety forms, and the union has also been advised of their concerns.

“Our officers strive to ensure the safety of everyone in the jail, so anytime a medical situation arises it’s obviously concerning,” Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union president Michelle Gawronsky said via email. “Public health has been involved and are providing guidance for staff and inmates, and we are taking direction from them on what next steps are needed.”

Staff were encouraged to double-check their immunization records and make sure they are up-to-date, the staff member said, and BCC was required to provide a clinic for staff to receive the required vaccines to protect against mumps.

The Brandon Court House is also taking precautions, opting to have inmates with symptoms or confirmed mumps cases appear in court by video.

— Brandon Sun