A viral outbreak at the federal prison in Arkansas where T.I. is currently incarcerated has caused the institution to suspend visits with inmates.

According to the Times-Herald, the Federal Correctional Complex-Forrest City has temporarily suspended inmate visitation due to a number of inmates who are sick with a "suspected gastrointestinal virus."

"The institution's medical staff is evaluating and appropriately treating the inmates for the symptoms that appear to dissipate after 48 to 72 hours," said R. D. Weeks, executive assistant at the FCC-FC. "Symptomatic inmates are being tested to determine the exact virus; however, the H1N1 virus is not suspected in these cases."

Weeks continued, “In an effort to ward against any spread of the virus, we are temporarily suspending social visits and are reminding the inmates and staff to adhere to universal precautions to include frequent hand washing, repeated cleaning of common areas, and using disposable gloves when appropriate.”

The prison plans to resume normal visitation to the inmates once they are "confident that the virus has been contained and is no longer being spread from person to person."

At press time, it was unknown if rapper T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris) had contracted the virus.

The rapper was jailed for purchasing illegeal firearms and silencers during a sting operation in Atlanta back in October 2007.