Five staffers and an inmate were sickened by exposure to an unknown substance Sept. 23 at Fishkill Correctional Facility.
This was the latest in a series of illnesses that have plagued both workers and inmates at the prison this month.
All of the illnesses have resulted from exposure to a substance that investigators have yet to identify.
In this latest incident, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said an inmate suspected of being intoxicated in his cell was escorted to the facility’s infirmary for an examination.
Five prison staffers who responded to the infirmary also became ill, with symptoms including high blood pressure and a tingly sensation.
They were transported by ambulance to an outside hospital for evaluation.
Meanwhile, the cell of the inmate was searched, and paper soaked in an unknown substance was discovered. The paper was sent out for further testing.
The inmate was cleared by medical staff. Other inmates who might have been exposed were evacuated to the prison yard while their areas were cleared by staff.
A state police investigation is continuing.
Meanwhile, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello issued memos to both staffers and inmates, outlining new steps that will be taken to try to prevent further illnesses from developing.
Effective immediately, all printed materials and tobacco products sent to the prison will be held in the package room for up to six days for additional screening for illicit substances.
Additional technology will be used to try to identify illicit drugs and foreign substances.
Martuscello said if the problem persists, the state will consider eliminating certain items from the package room program, including the ability to receive tobacco products. Those items would then only be available in the commissary.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Five more staffers, one inmate sickened by unknown substance at Fishkill Correctional
Reporting by Mike Randall, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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