A Sterling Correctional Facility prisoner who has been diagnosed with tuberculosis has been sent to a Denver hospital, and staff and other prisoners are being tested for the disease.
The sick prisoner first tested positive for the disease two years ago, but his TB wasn’t active. He had no symptoms and posed no danger to other prisoners, said Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti.
“TB is one of those diseases you can have in your system and not have active TB. Recently he started to get active systems,” Sanguinetti said.
All prisoners — including the 35 year-old TB victim — are tested for the disease before they are incarcerated at the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center, Sanguinetti said.
The man has been serving time for menacing and drug-related charges since 2001.
Prison officials have barred visitors to the facility as inmates, and guards are being tested.
