A Salmonella outbreak at the St Joseph County Jail in South Bend, Indiana, includes at least 23 illnesses. State and county health officials are working to determine what food item was the source of the outbreak.
Do You Need a Salmonella Lawyer?
St Joseph County Jail Salmonella Outbreak
At least 23 inmates at the St Joseph County Jail began to fall ill last week with symptoms consistent with Salmonella poisoning -vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, chills, and dehydration.
Monnesse Plummer told 16NewsNow that her son, who is an inmate at the facility, first developed symptoms including chills and dehydration on April 29. After three bags of IV fluids, his blood pressure dropped, and he started to seize. He was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend and admitted for treatment.
In a May 4 statement to the station, Sheriff Bill Redman said that most of the inmates had fully recovered, but a few are still being treated for food poisoning symptoms.
How Common Are Food Poisoning Outbreaks at Correctional Facilities?
Food poisoning outbreaks at jails and prisons are fairly common. A recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that people who are incarcerated or detained are six times more likely than the general public to have an illness associated with a foodborne outbreak; and that outbreaks at correctional facilities are six times larger than outbreaks elsewhere.
Why?
- Poor food quality
- Understaffing
- Overcrowding
- Lack of time and temperature control
- Food prepared in large quantities is held for long periods of time
- Food is re-heated and served on multiple days
- Lack of basic food safety measures
Other Recent Salmonella Outbreaks at Jails, Prisons
Some recent food poisoning outbreaks at correctional facilities include:
A 2023 Salmonella outbreak at the Solano County jails in California sickened 117 people. A food source wasn’t identified.
A 2022 Salmonella outbreak at a Nebraska correctional facility sickened 15 people. The contaminated food item was mechanically separated chicken.
A 2018 Salmonella outbreak at the Cook County Jail in Chicago sickened more than 50 inmates. At least two people were hospitalized. A food source was not identified.
Related
Can an Inmate Sue for Food Poisoning?
Lawsuit for Failure to Provide Medical Care in a Prison or Jail
Can an Inmate Sue for Salmonella Poisoning?
Salmonella Symptoms
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection usually develop within six to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. They include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea that is sometimes bloody
- Fever
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Inmate Sue for Food Poisoning?
Yes. An inmate can sue for Salmonella food poisoning from food served at a jail, prison, or other correctional facility if the facts support a claim for personal injury.
What Information is Needed to Support My Case?
Lab tests that show your illness is part of the outbreak, records from the hospital or infirmary, the dates your symptoms began and ended.
What if there was Failure to Provide Medical Care for Salmonella Food Poisoning?
Prison officials who do not provide reasonable and adequate medical care for an inmate, could be in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Some examples would be:
- Withholding medical care on purpose;
- Delaying treatment with the intent to harm the inmate; and
- Knowingly interfering with treatment (not carrying out medical orders).
Experienced Salmonella Lawyers
If your family member developed a Salmonella infection from food served at the St Joseph County Jail and you would like a free consultation with an experienced Salmonella lawyer, please contact the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team.
Our attorneys have represented clients in every major Salmonella outbreak in the U.S.
Call us at 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or complete the form below. There is no obligation, and we don’t get paid unless we win.
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