HOUSTON – Seventeen inmates in a Harris County jail were placed under quarantine Wednesday afternoon because they may have been exposed to a contagious disease.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, inmates in cell block 3C4 at the jail at 701 N. San Jacinto St. are not allowed to leave that area without individual medical review.
Recommended Videos
Visitation for other inmates will continue routinely Wednesday. Other jail operations have not been affected.
Authorities said medical personnel in the jail are collaborating with Harris County Public Health and Environment Services and regularly monitoring the affected area.
In a statement, HCSO said in part: "Quarantines in an environment of close proximity and housing such as a jail are not uncommon. They are done out of an abundance of precaution for several communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, chicken pox, shingles, etc."