Published: June 18, 2009 06:12 pm      

TB tests planned for jail at Raymond

RAYMOND — State health officials are conducting follow-up tests on 25 Hinds County inmates after two cases of the infectious lung disease tuberculosis were found at the Raymond jail this spring.

The Mississippi State Department of Health in May tested 800 inmates at the detention center and penal farm who came in contact with the two inmates at the Hinds County Detention Center. No new active cases of the disease were found, but 25 inmates returned positive skin tests, which means they carry the bacteria.

State epidemiologist Dr. Mary Currier said the health department will begin testing jail and penal farm employees in the next couple of weeks.

The department also is educating jail staff to recognize tuberculosis symptoms so that inmates with symptoms can be properly isolated and tested.