Salmonella was behind an outbreak at HMP Wandsworth that struck down more than 370 inmates and staff, the Prison Service has confirmed.

Staff were sent home last Thursday and visitations were cancelled while officials from the Department of Health were sent in to determine the cause of the diarrhoea and sickness bug.

The outbreak brought London’s justice system to a standstill after all court appearances were suspended for inmates at the prison.

The Prison Service revealed on Tuesday that salmonella was detected in a number of samples taken from sick inmates.

Visitors were allowed back into the prison on Monday and by Tuesday just 20 inmates and staff were still suffering from illness.

A source, who did not want to be identified, told the Wandsworth Guardian: “Inmates complained of being unwell [last] Tuesday.

“The first symptoms they had were flu-like ones. Inmates were complaining of feeling really achy and they had headaches. Then the diarrhoea started.

“I saw one inmate who looked dreadful. The next day he was so ill he couldn’t leave his cell. That’s when I heard loads of other inmates had come down with it.

“The smell of diarrhoea was overwhelming on one of the wings.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “The prison is dealing with this incident together with local health officials in line with standard infection control procedures.

“We would like to reassure the public that there is minimal risk that this illness could spread from the prison to the community.

“As part of the investigation, a small number of samples were taken from to identify the cause of the illness. Of these, 14 have now been confirmed as salmonella.”

Meanwhile, the Prison Service has said the death of inmate Scott Marriott – found in his cell - was unconnected with the salmonella outbreak.

Following a postmortem examination held on Friday, September 18, an inquest was opened and adjourned on Tuesday into the 37-year-old’s death.

His brother Paul Marriott told the Wandsworth Guardian: “We need to find out what happened.

“His friend in prison, who was in a nearby cell, told us he heard him crying out in the night before he was found dead the next day.”

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