A prison in the Waikato is working to find the cause of a mystery illness spreading within its walls.
A total of 47 inmates at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility have told staff they are sick. Of these, one prisoner has been diagnosed with campylobacter - an infection of the bowel.
Campylobacter is usually caught from eating poorly handled or contaminated food such as chicken. It can also spread from contaminated water or another infected person.
The prison is working closely with Waikato District Health Board to establish what caused the inmates to get sick.
The first inmate fell ill on Christmas Eve.
"The source of the infection is currently unknown," said Megan Tuhoro, acting prison director.
"All prison meals are prepared in industrial kitchens under the direct supervision of instructors working within the National Food Control Plan. There are clear and well-established quality and hygiene practices and policies to ensure that all food is prepared safely and to a high standard."
Four inmates were taken to hospital out of concern for pre-existing health conditions, but none were admitted, said Tuhoro.
Registered nurses are on site to help care for the sick.
