(Image source from: The Morning Call)

Over two dozen people at a prison in Ohio fell ill on Wednesday after being exposed to a matter that was likely the powerful opioid Fentanyl, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Later on Wednesday, at least seven people at prisons in Pennsylvania as well reported feeling ill, prompting the state's Department of Corrections to put all its prisons on lockdown.

According to police, twenty-eight people in Ohio were transported from Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe were transported from the prison to a nearby infirmary for treatment, including 23 correctional officers, one inmate, and four nurses.

One additional inmate was treated at the prison but was not transported, police said.

Police received a call at 9:10 a.m. ET about a substance exposure at the facility. All nurses, officers, and inmates affected were responsive and transported to Adena Regional Medical Center for treatment, according to police.

Police said there had been no fatalities and there was no threat to the public.

State police said it was possible the substance was Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that can be absorbed through the skin, eyes or mouth, and can cause an overdose even in small doses, according to the Mayo Clinic.

A life-saving drug, Narcan, used to counter an overdose of Fentanyl, according to police, had been administered to several victims, and 300 doses of Narcan had been made available at Ross Correctional Institution.

The cell block where the substance exposure took place had been cleared and all employees and inmates had been relocated to other parts of the facility.

Police said a hazardous materials decontamination team was headed to the prison to clean up the scene.

The incident remains under probe.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel, following these reports on Wednesday, put all the state's prisons on lockdown, citing multiple sickened staff members over the past few weeks.

"The safety and security of our employees is my number one concern," Wetzel said in a statement. "Our state prisons, especially those in the western part of the state, have experienced recent incidents in which employees have been sickened and we need to get to the bottom of this issue now."

According to the release, Pennsylvania prison mailrooms will be closed and visitors will not be allowed at the locations for the duration of the lockdown.

By Sowmya Sangam