If You Think COVID is Bad, Try Tuberculosis in Decatur

 

A prisoner from the Staton Correctional Facility was recently transferred to the Decatur Work Center. The center's capacity is 740, with roughly 90% of the residents having at least one full time job in the community. 

Now this prisoner from Staton has been diagnosed with Tuberculosis. He's been transferred back to a regular holding facility, in quarantine. Everyone with whom he's been in contact will be tested. That includes Staton, Decatur, and anyone in the community where he's been working.

The Alabama DOC is not releasing the man's name or any location, either state or public, where he's been employed since arriving from Staton. Let's assume the worst that he had a job in the public sector; how bad could it be?

The work release program is utilized by some fast food outlets in Decatur, but it also stretches to the Pilgrim's plant in Russellville. Should anyone here locally be worried?

Usually Tuberculosis is transferred by very close contact. That would certainly include those living in the center. Would it include private jobs? That's anyone's guess at this point. If you have worked with any inmates from Decatur, you need to be checked. The State is currently compiling a list of those whom they think may be in danger, but now is the time to be proactive. You can receive a TB test for around $5.00 at Med Plus or other facilities. We urge you to do so.