Ewald Biemans Wednesday
March 13, 2019 T: 582-7800 | F: 582-7044 www.arubatoday.com
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Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
2,200 quarantined over mumps outbreak at immigration centers PHOENIX (AP) — Over 2,200 people exposed to the mumps virus in at least two immigration detention facilities have been quarantined, authorities said Tuesday. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say the 25-day quarantine began March 7 at facilities in Pine Prairie, Louisiana, and Aurora, Colorado. The outbreak has renewed long-held concerns over access to medical care at immigration facilities, especially at a time when more immigrants who are crossing the border are being held and for longer periods of time. There are nearly 47,000 immigrants currently detained around the country, according to an ICE spokesman. ICE says 236 detainees have
had confirmed or probable cases of mumps in 51 facilities in the past year. There were no reported cases between 2016 and 2018 at any ICE facilities. Mumps is extremely rare, and infections have dropped by 99 percent since vaccinations began in the late 1960s. It can spread quickly through coughing, sneezing or even talking, and symptoms include swollen glands, fever, headache, muscle aches and pain while chewing or swallowing. Laura Lunn, managing attorney for the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network’s detention program, said her organization has about a dozen clients who are quarantined in Aurora. Lunn said the facility has made her clients
In this April 15, 2017, file photo, vehicles are parked outside the entrance to the GEO Group's immigrant detention facility in Aurora, Colo. Associated Press
available for meetings as long as they wear a mask, but that she’s concerned about the health and safe-
ty of her staff, and is looking at alternate ways to meet with them. None of her clients actually
have mumps and all are Mexican or Central American men. Continued on Page 3