California Casino Points to 10 Tuberculosis Instances; Authorities Recommend Examinations
A casino in California has been linked to at least 10 cases of tuberculosis (TB).
According to California's Contra Costa Health, a public health department serving northern California cities including San Francisco and the San Francisco Bay, the California Grand Casino in Pacheco is associated with 10 out of the county's 11 TB cases since 2018. The majority of these cases involve staff or customers at the casino. It's unknown if a current or ongoing source of TB transmission exists at the gaming facility, but so far, 10 of the county's 11 TB cases are linked to the casino. The 11th case has not been genetically tested but may also be connected to the casino.
Contra Costa Health is now encouraging anyone who has spent time in the casino's cardroom over the last five years to consider getting tested for tuberculosis.
"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, deputy health officer for Contra Costa County, adding, "TB can live inside someone for years without showing any signs of its presence. That's why it's important to take a test, even if you don't feel sick."
Tuberculosis is a disease that can cause serious illness but can be treated and cured with medication, especially when detected early. The California Grand Casino is a commercial card room that offers poker, player-designated blackjack, and baccarat.
What is Tuberculosis?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, tuberculosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, although it can impact other organs such as the brain, spine, and kidneys. It is commonly known for forming nodules in the lungs. People with TB who show no symptoms are considered to have inactive TB or latent tuberculosis. On the other hand, individuals with active TB have an infectious disease.
TB is relatively uncommon, with approximately 10 million people worldwide getting sick from the bacterial infection each year. In the US, less than 8,000 TB cases were reported in 2021.
The disease is transmitted by respiratory droplets released when infected people cough, sneeze, talk, sing, or even laugh. Individuals with active TB are the ones contagious.
TB was once a leading cause of death in the US. Thankfully, effective treatments were developed in the 1940s and 1950s. Common symptoms of active TB include a persistent cough lasting longer than two weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, chills, fever, and night sweats.
TB can be treated using various medications that target the infecting bacteria. Untreated, TB can be deadly. Immunocompromised individuals are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms from TB.
A TB Outbreak in Washington
In a similar case earlier this year, an unidentified woman known to have TB continued to visit tribal casinos in Washington despite public health warnings. Authorities had to resort to warrantless arrest to protect the public from the contagious disease. The woman was held in a specially equipped room for isolation, testing, and treatment after initially refusing treatment.
The woman, from Tacoma, was taken into custody with the help of a judge who issued a civil arrest warrant following efforts to convince her to comply with public health regulations.
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Source: www.casino.org
