Health officials in California are urging individuals who have spent time in a Bay Area casino in the last five years to get tested for tuberculosis. This comes after 11 confirmed cases have been connected to both the staff and the customers.
Contra Costa Health (CCH) issued the recommendation on Thursday, with a county health spokesman informing KTVU FOX 2 that the most recent case was found on Oct. 31.
“Of the 11 confirmed TB cases, 10 are genetically linked, with the majority associated with the casino staff or customers. The 11th case has not yet been genetically tested,” shared the health officials. The source of transmission at the casino has not been identified.
“We are making this recommendation now because there is new evidence that TB may have spread among people who spent time at the casino from 2018 to 2023,” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan. “TB can reside inside someone for years without showing symptoms. That’s why it’s important to take a test, even if you feel healthy. TB can lead to serious illness, but it is treatable and curable with early detection and medication.”
Symptoms of active tuberculosis may include persistent or bloody cough, unexpected weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue, as stated by CCH. Tuberculosis spreads when an individual showing symptoms coughs or breathes out droplets containing the bacteria, commonly in an enclosed space over a long period of time, such as several hours, according to CCH.
Patrons outside the gambling establishment told KTVU they had not heard about the news prior to their visit and did not see any warning signs or notices about the bacterial disease that affects a person’s lungs.
“Doesn’t sound like it’s cool, but people still here though, so didn’t scare too many people away,” shared Anthony Brown from Richmond.
“That’s the first I’ve heard anything about that,” customer Bob Lewis from Lafayette mentioned.
Fox News reached out to the casino for comment, but had not received an immediate response. The business, however, did release a statement to KTVU.
“Our foremost commitment is to ensure the safety of our customers and employees. According to Contra Costa Health, none of the linked cases are currently contagious, nor do they involve our staff. Additionally, Contra Costa Health has not identified any ongoing sources of transmission at the card room. We are actively collaborating with the county on notifications and testing to uphold public health and safety.”
