NAKHON RATCHASIMA - About 300 inmates at the Nakhon Ratchasima Central Prison have symptoms of tuberculosis and have been separated from other prisoners.
X-ray screening of the 3,000 prisoners at the prison found about 300 inmates had lung abnormalities caused by tuberculosis, said Dr Theerawat Walaisathien, director of Disease Prevention and Control office 7.
Inmates queue up for health checks at Nakhon Ratchasima Central Prison on Friday. About one in 10 of the 3,000 inmates there show symptoms of tuberculosis. (Photo by Prasit Tangpraert)
The TB-infected prisoners were being treated and had been separated from other inmates, Dr Theerawat said.
Inmates of other prisons under his office would also be examined for the highly contagious disease, to prevent it spreading further.
Some prisoners were found to have contracted the disease before being jailed, and others had been infected while inside the prison, he said.
His office was duty-bound to conduct health checkups of prisoners and provide treatment for them. Prison authorities should look into food preparation and living conditions of inmates to prevent an outbreak of tuberculosis and other diseases, Dr Theerawat said.
