The cycling of inmates in and out of prisons and jails around the world contributes significantly to the global epidemics of HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. […]
The authors reached their conclusions by analyzing nearly 300 scientific papers written about prisoners and infectious diseases by scientists around the world during the past 10 years. They also requested research data from United Nations organizations and from prison officials in countries such as China and Russia. Officials in 17 countries turned over their data.
The researchers believe transmission of HIV within U.S. prisons is fairly low due to the availability of antiretroviral drugs there, but the risk of transmission rises once prisoners are released due to difficulties accessing continuing care.
Hepatitis C can spread through prison tattooing, the researchers found, and tuberculosis can thrive in unsanitary conditions in some correctional facilities.
Read more at the Baltimore Sun…
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