State Prison in Tracy on Lockdown

KFSN A spokesman for Deuel Vocational Institution says it's the third year in a row inmates have been diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

Only 34 inmates have fallen sick, but staff are keeping all prisoners in their cells while they disinfect common areas.

Spokesman Lieutenant Ray Munoz says inmates at Sierra Conservation Center near Jamestown and Avenal State Prison near Fresno are also suffering from stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea and vomiting.

The problem was even worse in 2006, when gastroenteritis spread to nine state prisons.