Inmate tests positve for TB at Nevada Southern Detention Center

The Nevada Southern Detention Center experienced a health scare last week, revolving around a contagious disease resulting in a lockdown situation.

An inmate at the medium security jail, whose main contract is with the U.S. Marshall's Service, tested positive for tuberculosis on Aug. 12, sending the facility scrambling to make sure there was not a large-scale outbreak.

"Within an hour of receiving the results, the detainee was isolated from the population and was under a physician's supervision," said CCA Director of Public Affairs Jonathan Burns. "He began treatment shortly thereafter."

The positive test of the man initiated other inmates and staff who were in the vicinity of the affected man to be tested as well.

"All detainees and staff that had been in contact with the patient were tested immediately," Burns said. "All of those tested are TB negative. We continue to monitor the situation, which we believe to be a single, isolated event."

The Division of Public and Behavioral Health was notified about the positive TB case, but said that the detention center handled the entire process that followed.

"The Division of Public and Behavioral Health was notified by the Rural Health Clinic of an active TB case in the Nevada Southern Detention Center, a federal facility," said Division of Public and Behavioral Health Public Information Officer Martha Framsted. "The NSDC put the case in isolation and locked down the facility once they knew the case was positive. The NSDC is assuming all responsibility of the contact investigation which includes testing and treatment.

"The State TB Program is available as needed for technical assistance to the NSDC."

Burns made it clear that keeping a secure and clean facility was of the utmost importance to him and the detention center.

"As always, the safety, security and health of our staff and those in our care is our top priority," he said.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, TB is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attacks the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States.