Michele O. Carpenter

Environmental Health

PUBH 8165

Prevention of Pandemic Influenza in the Correctional Environment.

Dekalb County Jail

Individuals Incarcerated Annually

According to data reported by the Justice Policy Institute(2005) 1,000 individuals are incarcerated every week in the United States in 2005. Despite the decline in crime, the United States’ rate of incarceration is 726 individuals per 100,000 citizens. Making it the leading incarcerator in the world followed by England, China, France, Japan, and Nigeria.

US correctional population 2006

US correctional population 2008

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys, 2009

Public health implicationsRather than being insular and isolated, the

populations of both jails and prisons are dynamic with inmates frequently entering and leaving these facilities. The fluidity of movement of individuals between correctional facilities and their communities can have serious public health implications were pandemic influenza to strike.

Definition of Pandemic InfluenzaA flu pandemic occurs when a new

influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity and for which there is no vaccine(WHO 2010).

Is spread from person to person causing serious illness.

This illness in turn can spread through out the entire jail population in a very short time.

If not treated in a timely manner could result in death.

Be PreparedThough planning is important for any

community, the advance development of specific plans to deal with a pandemic flu outbreak are crucial to maintaining the viability of a correctional facility, its staff, and its inmate population(Poshkus,2006).

Preparedness is key.Each plan must be specific to the need of

each particular prison or jail.

Influenza Preparedness Plan

The plan must prepare for :Housing and care of sick inmates beyond the

capacity of the their infirmaries(if they have one).The possibility that quarantine may be necessary

and require training of medical staff and security.Training of inmates on basic hygiene, measures to contain the infections(i.e. hand washing).Use of personal protective equipment(PPE) will be enforced among staff and inmates(Poshkus, 2006).

CollaborationThe Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention in collaboration with Georgia’s Department of Correction created a pandemic influenza preparedness checklist. This tool was to be utilized by each individual prison and jail system in developing an overall pandemic influenza plan(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,2007).

Public Health’s RoleAs pandemic influenza becomes an increasing

threat, partnerships between public health and correctional facilities are necessary to prepare criminal justice systems adequately. In September

2007, the Planning for Pandemic Influenza in Prison Settings Conference took place in Georgia( Spaulding, McCallum, Walker, Reeves, Drenzek, Lewis, Bailey, Buehler, Spotts Whitney, Berkelman, 2009).

Topics such as non-pharmaceutical interventions, health care surge capacity, and prison-community

interfaces were covered(Spaulding,et.al, 2009).The conference has led to an ongoing process to

guide correctional facility’s preparation for pandemic influenza(Spaulding, et.al, 2009).

ConclusionIt is not a question of if but when an out

break of influenza will occur. Correctional systems of all sizes need to

consider their current state of preparedness for pandemic influenza and other similar catastrophes(Poshkus,2006).

With substantial coordination with your local public health department and hospital system, any correctional facility can adequately plan to meet the challenges of a pandemic influenza(Poshkus.2006).

ReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.(2007).

Correctional facilities pandemic influenza checklist. Retrieved February 2, 2010,from http://www2a.cdc.gov/phlp/doc.

Glaze, L., Minton, T., West, H. (2009). Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys. Retrieved January 25, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Correctional_Populations_in_the_United_States_1980-2008.png.

Poshkus,M.T.(2006). Infectious Disease in Corrections Report. Retrieved January 13, 2010 from http://www.Idcronline.org/archives/octnovo6/editor.html.

ReferencesPandemic influenza preparedness and response:

World Health Organization.(2009). Retrieved January 13, 2010, from http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/PIPGuidance09.pdf.

Spaulding, A.C., McCallum, V.A., Walker, D., Reeves, A., Drenzek, C., Lewis, S., et.al. (2009). How public health and prisons can partner for pandemic influenza preparedness: a report from Georgia. Journal of Correctional Healthcare, 2, 118 – 128.

Walmsley, R.(2006). World prison population list(7th edition). Retrieved January 25, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration in_the_United_States.