California health officials are recommending anyone who has spent time at a Bay Area casino in the past five years be tested for tuberculosis after 11 confirmed cases have been linked to staff and patrons.
Contra Costa Health (CCH) issued the recommendation Thursday, and a county health spokesperson told KTVU FOX 2 the most recent case was discovered on Oct. 31.
“Of the 11 confirmed TB cases, 10 were genetically linked, and the majority were linked to staff or customers at the casino. The 11th case has not yet been genetically tested,” said the health official. The casino’s final shipping source 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 in casinos from 2018 to 2023,” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan. “TB can live inside a person for years without showing signs of its presence. That’s why it’s important to take the test, even if you don’t feel sick. TB can cause serious illness, but it is treatable and curable with medicine, especially when detected early.”
Customers outside the California Grand Casino said they had not heard the news before their interaction and had not seen any warning signs or notices about the bacterial illness.KTVU FOX 2
Symptoms of active tuberculosis may include a persistent or bloody cough, unexpected weight loss, night sweats and fatigue, CCH states.
TB is spread when someone with symptoms coughs or exhales droplets containing the bacteria, often in a closed space over a long period of time, such as several hours, CCH said.
Customers outside the gambling establishment told KTVU they had not heard the news before their interaction and had not seen any warning signs or notices about the bacterial disease affecting a person’s lungs.
Symptoms of tuberculosis may include a persistent or bloody cough, unexpected weight loss, night sweats and fatigue. Getty Images
“It doesn’t sound good, but people are still here, so it doesn’t scare too many people,” said Anthony Brown of Richmond.
“That’s the first I’ve heard anything about that,” said customer Bob Lewis of Lafayette.
Fox News reached out to the casino for comment but did not immediately hear back. The business released a statement to KTVU.
A chest X-ray of a pulmonary tuberculosis patient is shown in this photo. Getty Images
“Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of our customers and employees. According to Contra Costa Health, none of the linked cases are currently contagious and do not involve our staff. Additionally, Contra Costa Health has not identified any sources of continuous transmission in the card room. We are actively working with the county on notification and testing to uphold public health and safety.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/