A judge has ordered a week-long suspension of federal criminal proceedings involving inmates in Fresno because of a growing flu outbreak at the Fresno County Jail.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill issued the order late Tuesday afternoon, saying he was doing so "in order to assure the health and safety" of judges, court staff, attorneys and the public.
O'Neill's order noted that one county jail inmate has died of flu complications and another who appeared in federal court last week has now been diagnosed with H1N1 influenza. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said it has quarantined hundreds of inmates to try to prevent influenza A from spreading.