MRSA Fears Could Block Pennsylvania's Transfer of State Inmates To Centre County Correctional Facility
A decision by the Centre County Board of Commissioners to begin housing State of Pennsylvania prisoners in the local jail has bought out concerns that the newly arriving inmates could spread diseases like hepatitis C and MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.
Commissioner Steve Dershem supported the deal to take up to 25 state prisoners a day at $55 per day because the providing the service to the state could end up putting $250,000 a year into the county's coffers. He warned about the difficult economic times facing Centre County.
Commission Chairman Jon Eich, however, fought back after being on the losing end of an initial vote to take the state inmates. And, one of the issues he brought up was the likelihood of spreading disease.
In addition to expressing concerns over drugs and gangs from outside criminals establishing contacts with local residents doing time at the jail, Eich said:
“The fourth point which I neglected to mention, but is just as important, are illnesses that inmates from outside Centre County bring with them, particularly, hepatitis C and MRSA (staph),” he said. “I am concerned that our staff and inmates will be exposed to additional inmates carrying these illnesses — and that the county would end up paying for the treatment.”
Centre County has run its own prison since 1800. The latest version was built over 24 "sink holes" in 2005 and today holds 259 inmates wearing the orange jumpsuits of the "Centre County Correctional Facility." It is located at Bellefonte, PA, with a state prison nearby.
More about the dispute over MTSA fears can be found in the Centre Daily.
