Update: Illness Outbreak at Arkansas's Tucker Prison Blamed on Food Poisoning
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: August 8, 2012
Update (August 8):
Officials with the Arkansas Department of Correction say the illnesses at Tucker have been connected to food poisoning.
Chicken salad served over the weekend is the culprit, though the Health Department has not pinpointed which ingredient is to blame.
The five inmates whose parole was delayed went home today.
Visitation should resume on Saturday.
Transfers of inmates to other prisons will resume on Monday.
Original story (August 6):
About 350 inmates suffering from a stomach virus or foodborne illness are being treated at Arkansas's Tucker Prison.
The Jefferson County facility holds nearly 800 prisoners.
A prison spokesperson says extra medical staff have been called in and they've requested that no one be allowed to leave the Tucker Unit. That includes five people who were scheduled to be released on parole.
The prison inmates are drinking a lot of chicken broth and water, waiting to get well.
Some samples have been sent to the State Health Department for testing.
Officials with the Arkansas Department of Correction say the illnesses at Tucker have been connected to food poisoning.
Chicken salad served over the weekend is the culprit, though the Health Department has not pinpointed which ingredient is to blame.
The five inmates whose parole was delayed went home today.
Visitation should resume on Saturday.
Transfers of inmates to other prisons will resume on Monday.
Original story (August 6):
About 350 inmates suffering from a stomach virus or foodborne illness are being treated at Arkansas's Tucker Prison.
The Jefferson County facility holds nearly 800 prisoners.
A prison spokesperson says extra medical staff have been called in and they've requested that no one be allowed to leave the Tucker Unit. That includes five people who were scheduled to be released on parole.
The prison inmates are drinking a lot of chicken broth and water, waiting to get well.
Some samples have been sent to the State Health Department for testing.
