5,200 people detained by ICE are quarantined

In May, Customs and Border Protection apprehended nearly 133,000 migrants, the majority of whom were unaccompanied families and children. Many of them go to the Border Patrol.

The fact that people are quarantined does not mean that they have mumps, but at least they have been exposed to it. Between September 2018 and June 13, 297 people in custody at ICE confirmed confirmed cases of mumps with a blood test.

There are approximately 52,000 single adults incarcerated in ICE detention centers.

The agency had already been busy with contagious diseases, such as measles, influenza and chickenpox, but it was the first time last September that she was recording cases of the disease. mumps. We do not know where the disease comes from or how it spread. Seventy-five percent of immigrants who come into custody come from the border, although immigrants can also interact with inmates in prisons, some of them as well.

"I think the situation is attracting more interest because it is mumps, which is a new event in detention, but we have demonstrated our success in preventing the spread of communicable diseases while in custody." ICE, "said Nathalie Asher, Deputy Director General of ICE. for the execution and the operations of elimination.

"From an operational point of view, the impact is significant in the short and long term and will result in an increase in the length of detention of incarcerated cohorts, an inability to expel eligible inmates under cohort and the postponement of scheduled consular talks for the quarantined detainees., "she added.

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ICE quarantines individuals for 25 days from the last incubation period.

The official also said the staff had been put on alert. "This week, the ICE Health Service Corps sent a reminder to key officials in the field, reminding their staff to review the immunization records and take the measures that were required," he said. said the manager.

The number of quarantined prisoners has increased significantly compared to the beginning of this year. As of March 7, there were 2,287 inmates quarantined for "exposure to an inmate with a contagious disease," ICE said.

Mumps is a contagious disease

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,002 cases of mumps were reported this year in the United States this year to May 24.

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus. It is spread through saliva or mucus by coughing, sneezing or talking and sharing kitchen utensils or cups. It can also spread when an infected person touches objects or surfaces that are subsequently touched by another person who contracts the virus.

The vaccine is the best way to prevent mumps, and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) is 88% effective against mumps when two doses are given, the CDC says.

Epidemics usually occur in people in close contact with an infected person, for example on university campuses and sports teams.

Symptoms may occur 12 to 25 days after infection and may include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and loss of appetite. The characteristic, however, is swollen ganglia under the ears that are sensitive. But not everyone has symptoms, especially if they have a mild case of the disease.

In the event of an outbreak of mumps in an institution where adults are detained, the ICE Health Service recommends that the vaccine be administered "to prisoners who have been exposed to at least one person with measles, mumps or rubella confirmed in the laboratory ". It is also recommended to administer catch-up vaccines to those under 18 years of age.

"Our detention centers work with local health departments and ensure that they comply with the state's health code and ensure that their local health department is aware of the health and safety issues. 39, existence of mumps in institutions, "said the head of the ICE.

This week, an outbreak of mumps at the Harris County Jail in Houston forced staff to isolate 14 symptomatic people and quarantine a few hundred other inmates, officials said. The news was announced shortly after the authorities announced the quarantine of Bergen County Jail, New Jersey, for alleged mumps cases.

Overcrowded border facilities

DHS officials said the overwhelming number of people crossing the border is an overwhelming facility. McAleenan told lawmakers this week that the growing number of migrants has hurt the morale of border officials and exposed them to illness.

"Their morale is affected, they are tired, many of them have become ill, they have been exposed to influenza, chicken pox, measles, mumps – all kinds of challenges in terms of medical care." McAleenan said. "They spend the night in hospitals instead of patrolling the border."

At the end of last month, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security released a report detailing some of the difficulties border patrol facilities faced among many migrant arrivals.

The IG has notably discovered a "dangerous overpopulation" and unsanitary conditions in a border patrol facility in El Paso, Texas following an unannounced inspection, according to a new report .

The IG found "conditions reserved for standing" at the El Paso Del Norte treatment center, with a maximum capacity of 125 migrants. On May 7 and 8, the newspapers reported that there were "about 750 and 900 detainees, respectively".

"We also observed detainees standing on the toilet in the cells to make room and gain space to breathe, thus limiting access to the toilets," says the report, obtained for the first time. once by CNN.

Jason Hanna and Doug Criss of CNN contributed to this report.