STD screening held at ADOC facility amid alleged outbreak

A sexually transmitted disease screening program was conducted recently at an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) facility amid allegations there is an outbreak of syphilis at the prison. 

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) conducted the STD screening at Staton Correctional Facility, according to an inquiry conducted by Alabama Appleseed researcher Eddie Burkhalter.

According to an email, ADOC was initially contacted but deferred to ADPH. In a response, ADPH said: “ADPH participates in screening programs for STD in populations where there has been or could be an increase in infections.  In cooperation with ADOC, ADPH recently conducted an STD screening program at Staton Prison and results are pending.  ADPH will follow standard treatment protocols to promote and protect the health of the persons screened, as well as prevent further disease.”

APR has heard from multiple sources that there is an alleged outbreak specifically of syphilis within the facility.

In 2001, a study titled, An Outbreak of Syphilis in Alabama Prisons: Correctional Health Policy and Communicable Disease Control, was conducted to investigate risk factors and transmission patterns of syphilis. The study mentions how disease can spread as incarcerated individuals are transferred between facilities and are not screened for the infection.