Nearly 80 prisoners were treated for mumps, a kind of inflammation, before an outbreak of the disease in four criminal centers.
In coordination with the Ministry of Justice and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), the Ministry of Health attended the outbreak of this type of infection at the Institutional Care Center (CAI) Gerardo Rodríguez in San Rafael de Alajuela; CAI Antonio Bastida de Paz (Pérez Zeledón), CAI Carlos Luis Fallas (Pococí) and CAI Marcus Garvey (Limón).
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 39 cases were filed in Alajuela, of which nine remain in isolation; 25 cases in Pococí, 11 isolated; 10 in Pérez Zeledón, where only one prisoner is separate from the rest. In addition to these cases, another one was registered in Limón, without symptoms.
In the penitentiary center located in Alajuela, two prison police were also affected.
Active cases receive treatment and hydration (serum). Meanwhile, the two security officers were referred to the respective EBAIS for evaluation, according to Dr. Rubén Camacho, a doctor at CAI Gerardo Rodríguez.
The measures implemented by the authorities in order to prevent the spread of the disease are: the isolation of the sick and their contacts, disinfection of surfaces, control of visits to the jail, avoid transfers of people from one penal center to another and the follow-up of vaccination schemes for both personnel and those prisoners.
Carlos Calderón, deputy director of the CAI Clinic Jorge Arturo Montero said that they are waiting for the approval of the Regional Directorate of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund of the Central North to proceed with vaccines with the corresponding specifications.
The main symptoms of mumps are: fever, swelling and pain on palpation of one or more salivary glands. Its transmission is given by respiratory droplets and direct contact with saliva.
From the last decade, on average, there are between 100 and 300 cases per year of mumps in the country.