SUMTERVILLE, Fla. – Federal Correctional Institution Coleman’s, the Central Florida prison where ex-Congresswoman Corrine Brown is serving her sentence, is dealing with cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons on Thursday sent News4Jax a statement, saying some inmates at the facility were diagnosed with legionella pneumonia.
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The facility in Sumterville, which houses 409 female inmates, is working with the Florida Department of Health. It’s unclear how many cases are under investigation.
“In conducting this investigation, the health and safety of staff, inmates and the public are the Bureau of Prisons’ highest priority,” the statement reads. “The BOP uses a comprehensive approach to managing infectious diseases in federal prisons that includes testing, appropriate treatment, prevention, education, and infection control measures. Staff and inmates have been notified about this situation and FCI Coleman staff are prepared to take any additional steps as needed.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires’ disease, a type of severe pneumonia, is caused by breathing in small droplets of water that contain Legionella. It’s treated with antibiotics.