Tuberculosis Outbreak Reported at Chetumal Prison; Families Accuse Authorities of Negligence

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Families of inmates at the Chetumal prison are demanding urgent sanitary measures and accusing prison authorities of negligence after a tuberculosis outbreak inside the facility.

In a letter addressed to Governor Mara Lezama, relatives said the failure of prison and public security officials to act threatens inmates’ right to life and health due to the spread of the disease.

Despite confirmed cases, inmates are reportedly allowed or forced to share communal food containers and utensils without any disinfection, sterilization, or basic hygiene measures, the families said, noting that tuberculosis is highly contagious.

The dining hall has become an immediate infection source, with symptomatic inmates not isolated or treated, putting the entire prison population, administrative staff, and guards at risk, according to the complaint.

Families said prison director Jetzael Elena Martínez Cisneros has been informed of the cases and has been asked to immediately stop the use of shared utensils, provide individual ones, or implement strict hospital-grade sterilization protocols.

They also demanded that the medical unit conduct urgent screening of all affected inmates, isolate positive cases, and provide necessary antibiotic treatment. They requested that the National or State Human Rights Commission be notified.

Relatives held the prison administration responsible for any harm, medical complications, permanent damage, or deaths resulting from the sanitary negligence.

Under Mexico’s General Law of Administrative Responsibilities and criminal laws, failing to act on a known epidemiological outbreak could constitute a serious omission by public servants, carrying administrative, civil, and even criminal penalties.