The governor expressed confidence that the Department of Corrections together with its state agency partners will determine the cause. He also said they will implement the necessary protection and procedures to ensure staff safety.
Earlier Wednesday, similar events occurred at Ross Correctional Institution in Ohio. Reports indicated that more than 20 people experienced possible opioid overdose symptoms. The victims included correction officers, nurses and inmates.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says they were exposed to a mixture of heroin and the powerful opioid fentanyl.
Emergency crews administered Narcan, an emergency medication for narcotics overdoses, to the victims and transported them to a hospital.
As a precautionary measure, the hospital received additional doses of Narcan. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the situation. It has collected samples of the substance for testing and identification.
