California Grand Casino, a card room in northern california’s city of Pacheco – 32 miles west of San Francisco – is identified by its county health department as the location of the majority of 11 recent positive tests for Tuberculosis.
The news release today from the Contra Costs County Department of Health alerts all California Grand customers dating back to 2018 to undergo a TB test.
“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,” states Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy health officer for Contra Costa County, according to the press release. “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.”
The health department release states there’s no identified source of the TB transmission at this time, and staff are working with California Grand management.
In a statement released for Bay Area media outlets, a spokesperson for California Grand contradicted the health department in regards to employees of the card room.
“According to Contra Costa Health, none of the linked cases are currently contagious, nor do they involve our staff, noted Becky Warren. “Contra Costa Health has not identified any ongoing sources of transmission at the card room. We are actively collaborating with the county on notifications and testing to uphold public health and safety.”
The press release asks California Grand customers who believe they may have been exposed to TB to contact their personal healthcare provider, or call Contra Costa’s TB Client Services Program at 925-313-6740 if uninsured or need advice about next steps. Visit cchealth.org/tb for more information about TB.
Dan is the founder of PokerLiveUpdates, a veteran poker tournament reporter who can be found wandering somewhat aimlessly through tournament arenas worldwide. As a founding member of FunTour2.0, he searches for the best in craft beer at all locations in the poker world.
