KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says it has been managing a confirmed outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) among inmates at the Hunts Bay lock-up since August of this year.

The JCF made the revelation in a statement on Monday, noting that currently there are seven inmates receiving treatment at the Hunts Bay lock-up, while an additional five are undergoing treatment at hospital under 24-hour police guard.

The force said it has been working alongside public health partners to manage the situation and reassured the public that all necessary measures are being implemented to contain the situation and ensure the safety of all involved.

Upon detection of the initial cases, the JCF said all established public health protocols were swiftly enacted. Infected inmates were immediately placed in isolation, and medical professionals were engaged to lead the response, the force said.

It added that all JCF personnel who came into contact with the affected individuals were also isolated and provided with the required personal protective equipment.

According to the JCF, the St Andrew South divisional management team has been collaborating closely with the public health officer and staff from the South-East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), the National Chest Hospital, and the relevant authorities at the St Andrew Parish Court to manage and mitigate the spread of TB.

As part of its precautionary measures, infected inmates are kept entirely separate from the general detainee population to prevent further spread of the illness. It said there have been no transfers into or out of the Hunts Bay facility since the initial detection of TB cases.

“We have also been engaging with the St Andrew Parish Court to facilitate court appearances for affected inmates through secure online platforms, such as Zoom, to further limit the risk of exposure,” the force said.

The JCF urged the public to remain calm as it implements all necessary measures to protect both the detainee population and the wider community.