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Aurora may require detention center disease reporting

Overcrowding plagues Colorado jail
Posted at 2:10 PM, Aug 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-17 16:10:12-04

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado city is considering whether to require detention center employees to promptly notify health officials of infectious disease outbreaks.

Aurora City Council members gave preliminary approval Thursday to requiring such notification within 48 hours of discovery.

Sentinel Colorado reports the proposal follows a spate of chickenpox and mumps outbreaks at a privately owned and operated federal immigration detention center in Aurora.

The facility had 15 reported cases of mumps and nine of chicken pox from the beginning of 2019 through mid-March.

Facility officials implemented a vaccination program after the outbreaks.

The reporting proposal would apply to three other facilities if approved by the full City Council.