Random Samples taken from MCJ inmates

CEBU, Philippines - Health officials find it difficult to avert the spread of the flu virus in the event that the Influenza A (H1N1) will succeed in contaminating detention centers.

This after reports regarding the 177 inmates from Mandaue City Jail who have developed flu-like symptoms over the weekend.

Random swab sampling was conducted yesterday from among the 67 inmates who remain with fever. Six samples were taken and will be examined at the Polymerase Chain Reaction lab of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center to determine if it inmates are positive of H1N1.

Department of Health Central Visayas-7 regional director Dr. Susana Madarieta said that results may come out today or tomorrow.

Sampling was conducted from among the 67 inmates with fever because the rest have already recovered and some are just experiencing mild cough.

Madarieta said that they ordered the jail management to submit a list of inmates with pre-existing conditions who will be given anti-viral medicines in case inmates will be found positive of the virus.

DOH will also be donating chlorine and other disinfectants to the MCJ after reminding the management to improve on the sanitation of the place to lessen the chance of the spread of the virus among the inmates.

Madarieta admitted that it will be difficult to contain the virus inside detention centers because the place is crowded and not able to maintain sanitation at all times.

They are coordinating with the jail medical staff and have given instruction to do the most effective measure to contain the spread of the virus.

“We could not quarantine or totally isolate the sick from the healthy ones because there really is no space. What the jail management is doing right now is just an improvised isolation which will not however guarantee total isolation. So the best thing we can do now is to treat immediately those who have pre-existing conditions to avoid fatality,” Madarieta said.

She added that they cannot demand an isolation area for inmates who developed flu-like symptoms because they understand that it is impractical to do so in consideration of unexpected things that may happen if they transfer the inmates to other locations.

The DOH has also instructed the medical team to keep an eye on those inmates with pre-existing conditions after learning that there is a significant count of inmates with Tuberculosis. Madarieta said that they are just waiting for the list of inmates with pre-existing conditions because only those will be given anti-viral medicines while the rest will just be treated like patients with normal flu.

“If ever there will be a confirmed case inside MCJ, most probably it is because wala kaayo sila kaprepare for this kind of situation. Maybe they were not screening their visitors who come in and out of the jail. I think it’s time that they screen their visitors that those with fever should not be allowed to enter,” Madarieta said.

DOH stressed that since containing the virus inside the jail is quite a challenge, banking on the sanitation of the place will be a lot of help to lessen the chance of transmission.

Dr. Rennan Cimafranca also clarified that an inmate who died last Friday does not have flu-like symptoms but died of asthma.

It was found out that the flu outbreak spread in MCJ hours after the inmate died.

Jessie Augis, 39 year old, was declared DOA at Mandaue City Hospital around 4:00 am in the morning.

Pepito Tugade, an inmate commander, said Augis complained about his asthma and had a history of drug withdrawal syndrome.

The family of Augis plans to have the body autopsied this week.   Mandaue City Jail has a total of 664 inmates and 90 percent of them are in for drug-related cases. 

Also in MCJ warden Supt. Simeon Soledad Dolojo Jr., celebrated his second year at his post last Saturday.

Jail Officer 1 Noll Serion said that they are lucky to have Supt. Dolojo as their jail warden.

“Because of his accomplishment there is a unity among us all here in the MCJ”, said Serion.

“Karon ra kami kasinati nga gitagad pag-ayo”, said one of the inmates during the thanksgiving dinner.

In a short program inmates also presented their intermission number showcasing their talents. Dolojo said that he wished to diminish the stigma of being an inmate to all their prisoners and a reformation to the inmates that will start in MCJ.

“It is my desire to improve the living condition of the inmates,” said Dolojo. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja and Johanna T. Natavio/BRP (THE FREEMAN)