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The lawsuit alleges that the outbreak began in 2017, but the Michigan Department of Corrections has only publicly acknowledged the problem this year. The defendants have not taken reasonable steps to mitigate the infection and to treat the detainees. ( Erika Wittlieb | pixabay )
A female inmate serving time in Michigan's only women's prison brought a clbad action against a scabies epidemic that affected hundreds of women inmates.
Mange outbreak at the Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility
In the lawsuit, Rebecca Smith, who is serving at least 25 years in prison for murder, said the women in the Huron Valley Women's Detention Center had itching and permanent scars as the Michigan Department of Correction had not treated or correctly diagnosed an epidemic of scabies.
Scabies is caused by microscopic mites called Sarcoptes scabiei that live on the skin for months. These creatures sink into the skin and lay eggs, causing red rashes and itching.
The skin disease is contagious and can easily spread through close physical contact. Doctors usually recommend treatment to an entire family or contact groups.
The complaint contends that the contagious skin disease began to spread in 2017, but the MDOC did not publicly acknowledge the problem until this year, when the facility was temporarily closed to visitors.
Like the worst mosquito bite
In March 2018, Smith told Detroit Free Press that she had the rash since October 2017 and that some women already had it before.
In the lawsuit, the 44-year-old woman said the itching had become unbearable in April 2018 and that she could no longer sleep, but she had not responded to her request to call a sick.
"It stings, it's like the worst mosquito bite," Smith said.
Smith's lawyer, Daniel Randazzo, said he had received letters from more than 200 infected inmates. Some of them have suffered for six to eight months.
The lawsuit alleges that the ministry and other defendants, including the department's director, Heidi Washington, director Shawn Brewer and Corizon Health Inc., who holds a prison health contract worth 715.7 million dollars with the state, should have known the infestation among the prisoners. and the contagious nature of the disease.
The prosecution also stated that the defendants failed to take reasonable steps to alleviate the infection, treat the infected and quarantine the detainees. He also alleged that the defendants had not established a correct diagnosis of the infestation after minimal testing.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Thursday, April 11.
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