Unknown Bacteria Deforming Bodies of Inmates in Roraima Penitentiary

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – An unknown bacteria is responsible for a condition still undiagnosed that is deforming the bodies of inmates at the Monte Cristo Agricultural Penitentiary (Pamc) in Boa Vista, Roraima.

According to a report in the blog of journalist Expedito Perônnico, the bacteria feeds on the skin of inmates, causing parts of their bodies to decompose. At least 24 inmates have already been attended to at the General Hospital of Roraima, the majority in critical condition, with sores mainly on their hands and legs.

The disease may be caused by the high concentration of scabies, syphilis and Visceral larva migrans (VLM) in prison.

According to the newspaper Folha de Boa Vista, on Friday morning (17) representatives of the OAB Roraima Human Rights Commission and the State Ombudsman’s Office visited the penitentiary and the hospital and confirmed the severity of the case, considering that an epidemic has already started.

Attorney Hélio Abozaglo said that some prisoners can no longer walk or bend their legs due to swelling and wounds. Still according to Abozaglo, one of the inmates reported that he feels a “thing” moving as if it is eating his flesh.

“There’s no point in them going back to prison now, because it won’t solve anything. They have to stay here, figure this out, go back when it’s safe and find out what kind of disease this is. We heard that one inmate began to sense it less than a month after drinking water that had a bad taste and odor. He said it was from then on that he began to feel itching and then paralysis,” the attorney said.