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Opinion And Comment: Bob Weaver
It has been a sad and tragic event for a Calhoun woman to apparently be
attacked by one of the nastiest diseases known, Necrotizing Fasciitis. Most
people in this county knew about the problem several days before it was
made public.
As we say here in the country, "She is a good woman and good neighbor,"
and it is painful to think of her body being attacked by this strange bacteria,
and the hurt it has inflicted on her family, let alone the associated fear that
surrounds such a terrible disease.
It has been a stranger experience trying to get public health officials to
acknowledge the problem.
It was my belief the public has a right to know about the disease, and I am
sure her family would have concerns for all of us. I set out to obtain clear,
concise information about the case, to discover public health officials would
not confirm nor deny the situation.
Even though I learned a Head Start official in Parkersburg, Glen Jones, had
obtained information regarding how that agency needed to view the problem
for the children in their care at a Grantsville center, he would not respond to
public concern.
Maybe I am missing something, but part of this unfortunate problem centers
on the questioning e-mails, stories, gossip and fear on the street about the
incident. It would seem to me, public health officials should confirm or deny
the disease and offer us comforting, professional opinions and information.
They will not, stating there are issues of confidentiality and the problem
does not rise to a level where a public health warning is necessary, or "trust
us, there is nothing that needs to be done." I must assume this is true. We
have attempted to print accurate information regarding the prevention and
recognition of the disease, mostly obtained over the internet.
So, we end up with mixed messages, because public health officials are
saying if there is such a problem, this is what you should expect.
Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center in Grantsville and Dr. Hande were
extremely competent and helpful with the issue. Thumbs up to our local
health center.
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