More than 100 inmates at the Ramsey County jail fell ill with stomach symptoms last weekend and the Minnesota Health Department is looking into whether foodborne illness was the culprit.

Undersheriff Joe Paget, who supervises the detention services division, said he doesn’t recall anything similar in his 28 years at the Ramsey County sheriff’s office.

Beginning early Saturday, “a significant number of inmates” started complaining of stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting, Paget said. St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health nurses provided Pepto-Bismol, and no inmates needed to be hospitalized.

In total, 137 of 420 inmates reported being sick.

“Inmates were frustrated but very patient with the process and appreciative of what Public Health was doing,” Paget said.

As of Sunday, approximately 40 inmates were suffering from stomach pain and diarrhea. On Monday, about 18 inmates had persistent symptoms, Paget said.

HEATH DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING

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Ramsey County outlines new initiative to reform bail system The sheriff’s office notified the Minnesota Department of Health and St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health on Saturday. The state health department is investigating the case as a possible foodborne illness outbreak at the jail, said Kate Awsumb, a spokeswoman for the agency. Laboratory testing could take several weeks.

Public Health’s Environmental Health staff are working with state epidemiologists.

“No cause has been determined at this point, but possibilities being looked at include improper food handling or viruses that might have been transmitted from one individual to another,” said John Siqveland, Ramsey County spokesman, in an email Thursday.

“Public Health staff have conducted an environmental health assessment of the food service at the facility … to put in place interventions to address food safety issues and prevent additional illnesses,” Siqveland added.

LEGAL OPTIONS CONSIDERED

About eight people contacted a Minneapolis law firm, Gaskins Bennett Birrell Schupp LLP, in recent days about becoming sick at the Ramsey County jail, said attorney Andrew Noel.

“It was certainly enough people that would lead you to believe there was a pretty widespread outbreak of some kind,” Noel said. “… They reported throwing up blood and diarrhea — some of the classic symptoms of food poisoning, which is what they believe it is.”

Noel said he didn’t have enough information now to know whether his firm would pursue a lawsuit, and he would like to see the results of the investigation before deciding on next steps.

INMATES REMINDED TO WASH HANDS

On Monday, staff went around the jail to provide information to inmates about the importance of hand washing, Paget said. They also used a cleaning solution on all the door handles, phones, toilets and more.

The sheriff’s office also notified Summit Food Service, with which they have a contract for food in the jail, and the company responded immediately, Paget said.

A Summit Food representative did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.

The inmate illnesses come at a difficult time for the jail. A staffing study has found that the St. Paul facility has been chronically understaffed and the county board approved more than $1 million in the spring to hire additional workers.

But the union representing correctional officers said last month that, because not many new staffers had been brought on board, understaffing had reached a boiling point and raised safety concerns. The sheriff has said relief is in sight as the county ramps up hiring.