30 prison officers contract latent TB

THIRTY prison officers who work at Cloverhill prison in west Dublin have tested positive for latent TB.

They were among 49 officers who were tested after six inmates developed the contagious form of the disease last summer.

The type of TB the prison officers have is not contagious, but it can become active at a later stage if not treated properly, or if any of their immune systems suddenly weaken because of other health problems.