T.I.'s Prison Struck With Virus Outbreak

While the rapper's health condition is currently unknown, the virus is reportedly spreading throughout the facility.

Authorities say visits with inmates have temporarily been suspended at the federal prison in Forrest City because of an illness outbreak. The prison says visits have been temporarily suspended because of a number of inmates with a "suspected gastrointestinal virus." Prison officials say they don't yet know what's sickened the inmates, but that they don't suspect swine flu. A prison official says visiting hours will resume once the virus is contained. (WXVT News)

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Traci Billingsley has confirmed the virus' existence.

A number of inmates recently became ill and have been treated at the prison, said Traci Billingsle. The symptoms appear to dissipate within 48 to 72 hours, she said. "Swine flu is not suspected because these all are all gastrointestinal-related," Billingsley said. Visits were suspended Friday. They will resume when medical personnel are certain there is no risk of exposure, Billingsley said. The prison in Forrest City is a low-security facility housing male inmates, including rapper T.I., who is serving a yearlong sentence on a weapons charge. (The Morning News)

Rapper T.I. reported to a federal prison in Arkansas Tuesday after a court imposed deadline to begin serving a weapons conviction...A federal prisons spokesman said after the deadline that Harris was not listed in custody. It's not clear if Harris will face any sanctions for apparently missing the deadline. Harris could face more than eight years in prison if he does not meet terms of his plea deal. (AP)

Although he is away from family and friends, Tip previously told SOHH his "official day of reckoning" was not his primary concern.

"[I] focus on today and let tomorrow handle itself," Tip said. "That's all I can do. I don't have [to think about it.] I know it's there. It doesn't require any thought. I think about preparing myself financially making sure that everything is in place that I need it to be in order for the lifestyle of my family to continue in the way that it must." (SOHH)

No information on Tip's health conditions have been released as of yesterday (June 22).