By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Due to the outbreak of mumps that has affected prisoners in the country's prison system, authorities have extended the suspension of visits to prisoners.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the current condition of prisoners with the disease are:

- Gerardo Rodríguez prison in Alajuela has 74 cases registered, 21 of those infected are in isolation.

- In the Luis Paulino Mora prison in Alajuela, 15 cases have been registered. 10 of those infected are in isolation.

- In the Calle Real prison in Liberia, 6 cases were registered. All six infected are in isolation.

- In the Marcus Garvey prison in Limón, 10 cases have been registered. 4 of the infected inmates are in isolation.

- In the Carlos Luis Fallas prison in Pococí, 61 cases have been registered, with only 2 of the infected placed in isolation.

- In the Antonio Bastida prison in Pérez Zeledón, 24 cases have been registered. Zero have been placed in isolation.

- In the Reynaldo Villalobos prison in Alajuela, only one mumps case has been registered and the inmate is in isolation.

- In the Jorge Arturo Montero prison in Alajuela, there are 4 cases of mumps with only one case in isolation.

According to the Ministry, 195 cases of people infected with mumps (in prisons) have been registered during this year.

September 20th, begins the vaccination campaign in jails to stop the spread of mumps, as A.M. Costa Rica previously reported.


According to Social Security authorities, 400 vaccines were given to prisoners, security officers, and administrative staff. The campaign started in two prisons. Jorge Arturo Montero prison, known as

La Reforma , and Gerardo Rodríguez prison, known as  Virilla jail. Both prisons are located in the province of Alajuela.

“It is up to us to define priorities and to recognize the prisoners and employees who have been exposed to the virus. We have an action plan, " said Marcia González-Aguiluz, Minister of Justice."People must know that we have taken the necessary measures and that the situation is under control."

According to specialists, mumps is a viral disease caused by a virus. Initial signs and symptoms often include fever, muscle pain, headache, lack of appetite, and feeling unwell. This is usually followed by painful swelling of one or both parotid salivary glands.

The transmission of the virus occurs through the contact of fluids from the nose and mouth.


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