Summary:
- The casino is located 22 miles outside of Oakland.
- Eleven cases of tuberculosis were reported from 2018-2023.
- The cases are tied to the casino.
Additional information is now available regarding a recent report connecting eleven cases of tuberculosis to the California Grand Casino in Pacheco. The California casino is located outside Oakland, and Contra Costa Health has reported that genetic testing revealed ten of the cases were connected. An eleventh case has yet to be tested.
What is Tuberculosis?
The infectious disease is caused by bacteria that can spread in the air among people who have close contact. The disease is most likely caught indoors, and the bacteria can attack the lungs. This leads to a painful cough that lingers. While the virus is infectious, not everyone who comes in contact with an individual with tuberculosis (TB) will catch the disease.
Genetic testing is done in the United States regarding confirmed cases to help slow the spread and stop an outbreak. When an individual with TB coughs, the bacteria is isolated, and the DNA from the bacteria is processed to see if it matches another person’s DNA. This is how the disease is connected to other people and its originating infection.
The county health department has reached out to over 300 people who may have been exposed to TB at the California Grand Casino. Anyone who visited the casino in the past five years and has not heard from the county is asked to contact officials to discuss the possible infection.
Low Risk Reported
The risk of TB in the community remains low, and the casino did nothing to put the community at risk. It’s simply a factor involving how the bacteria is spread through close contact with individuals. Anyone with TB is contagious and sick, with symptoms including a bloody cough, night sweats, fatigue, and unexpected weight loss.
Becky Warren, a spokesperson for the California Grand Casino, stated to the press that the commitment of the casino is to the safety of the customers and employees. Based on information provided by Contra Costa Health, the linked cases are not currently contagious, and they do not involve staff members of the casino.
The Contra Costa Health Department has not identified ongoing sources of TB in the card room that could cause additional transmission of TB. The casino is collaborating with the county on the notification process and testing to ensure public health and safety.
As the county speaks to more people connected to the casino; we may see even more cases of TB from players who traveled to the casino in the five-year time frame.
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