Cache Creek Casino Resort Confirms Case of Contagious Tuberculosis

Contagious tuberculosis (TB) has been positively detected at a Northern California tribal casino resort.

A member of the community recently tested positive for tuberculosis, according to a health alert from the Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, California.  One kind of bacteria that most frequently infects the lungs is active tuberculosis.  When an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or spits, TB is transferred through the air.

According to the World Health Organization, a person can get the contagious bacterial disease by simply breathing in a few drops of the germs.  The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation owns and runs the tribal casino, which claims it is disseminating the TB information "out of an abundance of caution."

"A case of contagious tuberculosis has been identified in our community. In collaboration with public health officials from the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, Cache Creek Casino Resort staff are conducting contact tracing to identify and notify individuals who may have had close contact with the affected person. Health authorities define close contact as having a cumulative exposure of at least eight hours to the individual with TB,” the Cache Creek Casino Resort notice read.

Cache Creek is in Yolo County, roughly 30 miles west of Sacramento.  In addition to 659 hotel rooms, the tribal casino features 2,300 slot machines, 80 live dealer table games, an entertainment center, a spa and pool complex, a meeting and event area, and an 18-hole golf course.

Limited Details 

Whether the "community" person worked for the tribal gambling establishment or was only on the premises was not made clear in the Cache Creek Casino Resort Health Notice.  A representative for Cache Creek told Casino.org that it was not a tribal member.

However, employees—particularly those with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions—are being urged to seek more advice from their primary care physician.

Weakness, exhaustion, appetite loss, chills, fever, and sweating are signs of active tuberculosis.  Chest pain, coughing up blood, and a cough that lasts three weeks or more are more severe symptoms.

Not everyone who contracts tuberculosis will show symptoms, particularly healthy individuals.  WHO states that those with diabetes, HIV, malnutrition, and tobacco use are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis.

TB is curable and treatable.  In the United States, TB-related deaths are uncommon; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 565 TB-related deaths were reported in 2022, the most recent year for which statistics are available.  This means that there are just 0.2 deaths for every 100,000 people. 

The resort is still open

The Cache Creek Casino Resort event has not resulted in any further positive active TB cases.  The property is therefore still available for use.

In order to perform contact tracing, staff members and visitors who may have had close touch with the sick patient are being contacted.