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Harris County Jail Inmate Dies of Bacterial Meningitis as Rangers Open Investigation

Health officials have begun contact tracing, with no other confirmed cases in the jail.

Overview

  • The 53-year-old man died Thursday at a Houston-area hospital after becoming ill while housed at the 1200 Baker Street facility.
  • He was hospitalized Tuesday and doctors confirmed bacterial meningitis on Wednesday, according to the sheriff’s office.
  • Harris Health, Harris County Public Health, and the Houston Health Department identified people who may have been exposed and initiated treatment and observation protocols.
  • The death was reported to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, and the Texas Rangers are conducting the required outside investigation.
  • The sheriff’s office counted the case as the 16th in-custody jail death this year, and the man’s name has not been released under medical privacy laws.