The California Grand Casino in Pacheco is dealing with an outbreak of tuberculosis, with at least ten cases linked to the property. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Cause for concern

A California casino is currently dealing with a flurry of tuberculosis (TB) cases that have been linked to the property. Health officials have linked at least ten instances of the infectious disease to the California Grand Casino in Pacheco and workers and visitors have been told to get tested.

The local county’s health department has been conducting genetic testing, resulting in 11 confirmed cases. Officials have contacted over 300 individuals who were possibly exposed to TB. The first time that the county learned about a link with the casino was back in 2021; it is unclear how severe the cases were.

people who spent time at the property between 2018 and 2023 should seek immediate testing

Doctor Meera Sreenivasan explained that people who spent time at the property between 2018 and 2023 should seek immediate testing even if they feel fine. The bacteria can stay inside a person for years without showing any symptoms.

A treatable disease

While in the past TB was almost a death sentence for people, it is now usually treatable through a long course of antibiotics. People raised in the US usually get a vaccine during childhoods that wards against the disease. The main two methods to test for TB are through a skin test and a blood test, with the latter being more accurate.

Centers for Disease Control data shows there were 8,300 reported cases in of TB in the United States in 2022.

One of the ways in which TB spreads is when people breathe or cough out droplets that carry the bacteria, especially in an indoor setting over the course of a few hours. It mainly impacts the lungs; common TB symptoms include a bloody or persistent cough, fatigue, night sweats, and weight loss.

An iconic property

California Grand Casino Spokesperson Becky Warren confirmed that the property is cooperating with public health advice and said that health officials did not find “any ongoing sources of transmission at the card room.” The casino’s management is working to provide health education to all workers, as well as encouraging them to undergo testing.

Card Player said that the California Grand Casino is the oldest continuing operating poker room in the world, catering to players since 1854. It is located about 20 minutes from the San Francisco Bay Bridge and Oakland.

In addition to Texas Hold ’em, patrons can also play Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Baccarat, and Hot Action Blackjack. Due to state laws preventing house-banked games, the dealer’s hand rotates among the players, with the casino staff just dishing out the cards and settling bets.