Health emergency at Galle prison, admissions restricted

A health emergency has been declared at the Galle prison due to a contagious disease spreading among the inmates.

The Health Ministry said today that the disease spreading within the prison is Meningococcal disease, which is contagious.

Speaking on the matter, Prisons spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said nine inmates have been hospitalized with fever and skin infections. 

Two inmates have died on the 13th and 20th of this month due to this illness. 

Moreover, Ekanayake said admissions to the prison and moving inmates out of the prison has been restricted in light of the health emergency.

Further investigations are being carried out into these deaths while a special medical team from the Karapitya Hospital has visited the prison to treat the inmates and prison staff.