Health officials have launched a tuberculosis investigation after 11 cases of the disease were discovered among staff and customers of the California Grand Casino in Pacheco. The investigation was initiated after a person with an active tuberculosis infection was found to have been on multiple elementary and high school campuses in Clark County, Nevada. The infected individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, had visited 26 schools and a training site before being diagnosed with TB.
The Southern Nevada Health District has released a list of affected schools and has notified individuals who were believed to have had close contact with the infected person. So far, individual notifications have been made at 17 campuses, but there have been no identified exposures at eight campuses. Health officials have emphasized that not all those exposed will be infected, and not everyone infected will develop active TB.
Tuberculosis is easily spread in crowded conditions, making it a concern for schools and casinos. Symptoms of the disease include persistent coughing, chest pain, coughing up blood or phlegm, weakness, weight loss, chills, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite. Health authorities are urging anyone who may have been exposed to get tested and seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms.
The investigation into the tuberculosis outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive measures in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Public health officials are working diligently to contain the outbreak and ensure the safety of the affected communities.
