Prisoners riot in jail of Alajuela

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Prison Police agents in the Gerardo Rodríguez Prison* in San Rafael in the province of Alajuela had to control a mutiny by prisoners Monday.

According to the Ministry of Justice, at 9 a.m. a group of prisoners began the protest by burning mattresses in one of the halls, which caused other prisoners who were in other bedrooms to join the mutiny.

The prisoners also threw stones at police, said the ministry.

The cause of the protest was against the health alert due to the increase of mumps cases. Visit to prisoners was suspended due to the presence of mumps.

According to the ministry, the situation was controlled by the police who launched tear gas.

The director of the Penitentiary Police, Pablo Bertozzi, confirmed that 15 people were identified as the riot leaders.

Bertozzi informed these prisoners were transferred to another prison, also located in the province of Alajuela.

According to the ministry, the support of the Red Cross and firefighters was necessary. After controlling the burning of mattresses, officials determined there was no risk of another fire.

Ministry's report, there are 1,148 prisoners in this prison facility.

As A.M. Costa Rica reported, on Sept. 27, authorities have extended the suspension of visits to prisoners due to the mumps outbreak.

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, six cases were registered. All six infected individuals are in isolation.

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

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

- In the Antonio Bastida Prison in Pérez Zeledón, 24 cases have been registered. No one has 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 four cases of mumps with only one sufferer in isolation.

Ministry reports 195 cases of prisoners infected with mumps have been registered during this year.

Sept. 20 prison officials began a vaccination campaign to stop the spread of mumps.

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 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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Should authorities start a new vaccination campaign for the jail's visitors to reduce the risk of the outbreak of the mumps and to allow prisoners to get visits? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com