Prison officials looking into substance that sickened ISP staffer

PCC STAFF

FORT MADISON – Iowa State Penitentiary officials are looking into an incident Friday that caused a staff member to be taken to the hospital

The staff member became extremely ill after coming into contact with an unknown substance that is believed to have come from a bottle of eye drops.

Other staff at the institution quickly quarantined the substance, and the staff member was taken to the local hospital. Her condition has stabilized, and she has been released to recover at home.

The substance that is suspected to have caused the staff member to become ill has been submitted to the State Crime Lab in Ankeny for testing by the Division of Criminal Investigations.