UPDATE: Salmonella Confirmed After 300+ Inmates Sickened at Broome County Jail

More than 300 inmates at the Broome County Correctional Facility have fallen ill this week in what health officials have confirmed is a Salmonella outbreak, larger in scope than investigators initially expected.

Symptoms Emerged Quickly and Spread Fast

Inmates began reporting vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and headaches on May 25. Within two days, the number of sick had climbed into the hundreds, prompting a response from medical staff, county health officials, and emergency services personnel. Early suspicion pointed to norovirus, given how quickly the illness spread through the facility, but lab results identified Salmonella as the cause.

Hydration the Priority as Staff Monitor Vulnerable Inmates

Treatment has focused primarily on keeping patients hydrated with fluids and electrolyte drinks. Inmates considered at higher risk, including the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, may also be prescribed antibiotics on a case-by-case basis.

Kitchen Inspected, Meal Samples Now Being Tested

Investigators are still working to pinpoint how the bacteria entered the facility. The probe involves coordination between the Broome County Sheriff's Office, the county health department, the New York State Department of Health, and Trinity Services Group, the company that handles food service at the jail.

Health inspectors swept the kitchen on Tuesday and found no significant issues with equipment or food preparation. Stored meal samples from the days before the outbreak are being tested, and food tied to those meals is being held pending results. Officials noted that the food currently being served arrived after the inmates first got sick.

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Cleaning Continues as County Promises Updates

Sanitation efforts across the facility are ongoing. The county says more information on case counts and the investigation is expected in the coming days.