Whitehorse inmates expected to clean cells
Last Updated: Friday, October 30, 2009 | 5:51 PM CT
CBC News
An inmate at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre who currently has flu-like symptoms says he still has to clean a dirty cell where he is being isolated.
The territory's jail currently has one confirmed case of swine flu, while three other inmates have been isolated.
One of those three inmates, Leonard Dickson, told CBC News they were moved out of the jail's general dormitory and placed in cells reserved for high-risk prisoners.
But Dickson said those cells were filthy, and the trio was expected to disinfect the area themselves.
"There was pee like on the floor and all that, there's hair everywhere, we had to bleach everything ourselves," Dickston told CBC News on Friday.
"We had to clean up our own areas when we're all achy and sick and all that ... they're like treating us like animals. I know we're criminals and all that, but damn, we're humans, man."
Yukon justice officials confirmed that the three inmates were moved to those cells on Thursday and were given Tamiflu and face masks.
As for the inmates having to clean their own cells, Justice Department spokesman Dan Cable said it is routine for inmates to clean their own areas.
"That's always been the case, and so that doesn't change," Cable said. "If they're too sick to do work, of course, they then can be removed and taken to the hospital."
Cable said it is up to the jail's nurse to decide if the inmates are too ill to clean their cells.
In addition to the confirmed swine flu case at the jail, Cable said another inmate has been hospitalized.
H1N1 flu vaccines were offered at the jail this week. Another clinic will take place next week.
