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 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 implications Rather 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 Influenza A 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 Prepared Though 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).

Collaboration The 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 Role As 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).

Conclusion It 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).

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(2007). Correctional facilities pandemic influenza checklist. Retrieved February 2, 2010,from Glaze, L., Minton, T., West, H. (2009). Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys. Retrieved January 25, 2010, from _the_United_States_ png. _the_United_States_ png Poshkus,M.T.(2006). Infectious Disease in Corrections Report. Retrieved January 13, 2010 from

References Pandemic influenza preparedness and response: World Health Organization.(2009). Retrieved January 13, 2010, from 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(7 th edition). Retrieved January 25, 2010, from in_the_United_States.