FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) – Inmates from a northeastern Indiana jail are wearing masks to prevent spreading flu when they appear in court.
Allen County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jeremy Tinkel tells The News-Sentinel that several inmates have flulike symptoms, but he wouldn't confirm there was a flu outbreak at the jail.
Tinkel says that with people in such close quarters, it's common sense to take steps against spreading disease.
The sheriff's department is working with health officials to vaccinate inmates.
County health department spokesman John Silcox says the agency gave kits to the jail so they could test inmates. The samples will be sent to a state lab to determine what's making the inmates sick.
So far this season, three people in Indiana have died from the flu.