California health authorities have issued a public health advisory, urging individuals who have visited a Bay Area casino over the past five years to undergo tuberculosis testing.
This follows the discovery of 11 confirmed tuberculosis cases linked to the casino's staff and patrons.
The recommendation was released by Contra Costa Health (CCH) on Thursday. A spokesperson for the county health department informed KTVU FOX 2 that the most recent case was identified on October 31.
"Out of the 11 confirmed TB cases, 10 are genetically linked, and the majority are associated with staff or customers at the casino. The 11th case has not yet been genetically tested," stated the health officials. The exact source of transmission within the casino remains unknown.
Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, a health official, explained the urgency of the situation. "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," she said. "TB can live inside someone for years without showing signs of its presence. That is why it's important to take a test, even if you do not feel sick. TB can cause serious illness, but it is treatable and curable with medicine, especially when caught early."
CCH outlined the symptoms of active tuberculosis, which include a persistent or bloody cough, unexpected weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue. The disease spreads when a person with symptoms coughs or exhales droplets containing the bacteria, typically in a confined space over an extended period.
Several casino patrons expressed surprise at the news. "Doesn't sound like it's cool, but people still here though, so didn't scare too many people away," said Anthony Brown from Richmond. Bob Lewis from Lafayette added, "That's the first I've heard anything about that."
Fox News reached out to the casino for a response but did not receive an immediate reply. However, the casino issued 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."
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