Substance at Scott County Jail tests positive for fentanyl; three taken to hospital

BENTON, Mo. -- The Scott County Jail is back to normal operations after a hazmat situation Sunday that led to three jailers going to the hospital.

According to the Scott County Sheriff Wes Drury, at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, crews cleared the scene at the jail, and the jail returned to normal operations.

Earlier in the day, three jailers started having health problems and were taken to an area hospital for treatment and have since been released, the sheriff's office said.

Hazmat crews were called to the scene, and during the investigation, a white powdery substance found tested positive for fentanyl, the sheriff's office said. A Schedule II prescription drug, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever, approved for treating severe pain, typically advanced cancer pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, most recent cases of fentanyl-related harm, overdose and death in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl, which often have a heroin-like effect, the CDC says.

According to the sheriff's office, the substance was contained to a small, isolated area in the jail. The substance has been removed and the isolated area has been decontaminated. No inmates were affected by this incident, the sheriff's office said.

Drury said several area agencies assisted with the incident: Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Cape Girardeau Fire Department, Jackson Fire Department, Scott County Rural Fire Department, Benton Fire Department, South Scott County EMS and North Scott County EMS.