11 tuberculosis cases linked to Bay Area casino, officials say

Public health authorities Confirmed There are 11 cases of tuberculosis linked to casinos in California.

The case was reported in an individual who spent time between 2018 and 2023 at the California Grand Casino in Pacheco, 35 miles northeast of Oakland, Contra Costa Health said in an email to SFGATE on Friday. said in a statement.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that can spread through the air between people who are in close contact, especially indoors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This bacteria most commonly attacks the lungs, causing a persistent and painful cough. Not everyone exposed to germs will get sick.

Genetic testing revealed that 10 of these cases were related. The 11th person has not yet been tested, Contra Costa Health wrote.

To reduce the spread of tuberculosis in the United States, it is standard practice for confirmed cases of tuberculosis to undergo genetic testing, said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy health officer for Contra Costa County. Press conference. “When those people cough up bacteria, we can isolate that bacteria in the lab. These are bacteria that have DNA, and through a process called whole-genome sequencing, we can separate the DNA of different individuals into different We can match it with human DNA.’ Tuberculosis DNA,” Sreenivasan said.

The county announced that it has contacted 300 people who may have contracted tuberculosis at the casino. Officials say anyone who has visited or worked at a casino in the past five years and cannot be reached can call the county at 925-313-6740 and ask about tuberculosis testing. . press release Issued by the prefecture.

Sreenivasan said it’s important to consult a health care provider even if you don’t have symptoms. Bacteria can live in a person’s body for months or even years before they become sick and contagious. Even if tuberculosis is inactive, the bacteria can be identified and treatment can be given to prevent disease and transmission.

Despite the outbreak, Sreenivasan said the risk of tuberculosis in the community “remains low.” She also said there was nothing about the way the casino operated that jeopardized the community. “It’s really just one element of how this bacteria spreads,” she says. “It is transmitted through close contact between individuals.”

Tuberculosis patients are contagious and sick, and the most common symptoms include “persistent or bloody cough, fever, unexpected weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue,” the county said in a statement. Ta.

California Grand Casino spokeswoman Becky Warren said in a statement to SFGATE: According to Contra Costa Health, none of the involved cases are contagious at this time and none of our staff are involved. Additionally, Contra Costa Health has not identified the source of the ongoing infection in the card room. We are actively working with counties on notification and testing to maintain public health and safety. ”

This bulletin has been updated.