Bacterial infection claims two lives in Galle Prison

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Two inmates of the Galle Prison have died due to a rare bacterial infection, which has left 16 others hospitalised, according to prison officials.

Nine of inmates had been admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and seven were receiving treatment at the prison hospital, media spokesman for the Prisons Department, Chandana Ekanayaka, said.

“A team of doctors from the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital has been sent to the Galle Prison to investigate the matter. They have administered antibiotics to all inmates and officials. They have also been asked to wear masks, and prisoners continue to be produced in courts” he said.

Dr. G. Wijesuriya, Medical Director at the Ministry of Health said the prisoners are suffering from meningococcal disease. He said it was a bacterial infection.

“We are trying to figure out how the bacterium found its way into the prison. A week ago, a person who was released from Galle Prison, died at the Karapitiya Hospital. He was 24-years-old. We are also testing other members of his family and his associates,” he said.