SAN DIEGO (CNS) - People who visited the Lucky Lady Casino in San Diego on weekends over a six-month period ending in late September may have been exposed to tuberculosis, county health officials reported today.
The Health and Human Services Agency is working with the casino to inform patrons and staff who may have been exposed between Feb. 23 and Sept. 30, said county spokesman Jose A. Alvarez.HHSA will provide testing at no cost to patrons who were potentially exposed, Alvarez said. Testing will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 9 at the casino at 5526 El Cajon Blvd., he said.
People who visited the casino are encouraged to contact their doctor or county TB Control if they cannot get tested on Dec. 8 or 9, Alvarez said. Beginning today, testing is also being offered to casino staff at no cost by county Occupational Health, according to HHSA officials, who noted it can take eight to 10 weeks after exposure for someone to test positive for TB.
Those wanting more information may call Lucky Lady Casino at (619) 287-6690 or the county TB Control Program (619) 692-8621.Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer, said most people who are exposed do not become infected. However, testing is recommended because initial infection usually has no symptoms, she said.
Tuberculosis is transmitted from person-to-person through indoor air during prolonged contact with an infectious individual. Symptoms include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
The number of annual TB cases in San Diego County has decreased since the early 1990s, Alvarez said, with 258 cases reported in 2016, 237 in 2017 and 163 cases so far in 2018.