Health officials in California said that at least 10 cases of tuberculosis have been linked to a casino in Contra Costa County, urging people to undergo testing for the potentially deadly bacteria.
“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,” the statement said, adding the agency has not yet “identified a current or ongoing source of transmission at the casino” and is working with the casino’s management now.
“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,” Dr. Meera Sreenivasan 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.”
But the bacteria can live in a person for months or even years with no symptoms, say health officials. It means that those with no symptoms should speak with their health care providers about obtaining a test if they believe they were exposed at the California casino, the agency warned.
The bacterial infection spreads when an infected individual who has symptoms coughs or breathes out droplets with the bacteria, namely in a closed space over a lengthy period of time, according to Contra Costa Health.
In a statement to local media outlets, the casino said that “our foremost commitment is to ensure the safety of our customers and employees” and added that “ none of the linked cases are currently contagious, nor do they involve our staff.”
The local health agency, meanwhile, said it has contacted more than 300 people who might have been exposed to active tuberculosis and is working with state officials to encourage testing.
Officials say that tuberculosis treatment usually involves a lengthy, monthslong treatment involving several different strong antibiotics. The disease can be fatal if left untreated, and it is currently one of the top infectious killers worldwide.
“Overall, without treatment, about 5 to 10 percent of infected persons will develop TB disease at some time in their lives. About half of those people who develop TB will do so within the first two years of infection,” says the CDC. “For persons whose immune systems are weak, especially those with HIV infection, the risk of developing TB disease is considerably higher than for persons with normal immune systems.”
Other Incidents
Earlier this year, a hospital in Indiana issued a notice to patients that they might have been exposed to tuberculosis after a staff member tested positive for it.Between 5 and 10 percent of latent infections will develop active tuberculosis, health officials say.
HHS said in its report that officials in 44 states received some 2,450 alerts of illegal alien minors who had tuberculosis in the year ending on May 31, 2023.