A wave of food sickness hit a Quebec City prison on Friday, infecting 250 prisoners and 25 staff.
Over 20 employees failed to show up for work Friday morning due to illness. In response, prison officials forced all the prison's inmates to stay in their cells. As the day progressed, the number of sick increased.
Quebec's public security ministry said Friday that a broken dishwasher was to blame for the gastroenteritis. The ministry said 60% of prisoners and 5% of staff were hit by the food bug and suffered diarrhea and vomiting.
Security ministry spokesman Clement Falardeau said no one at the prison required hospitalization.
"All the activities planned for the (prison) have been cancelled," Falardeau said.
He added that for the next few days, inmates will eat food prepared outside the prison and all the utensils will be cleaned.
