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Privacy getting in way of safety
Published Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Notice to citizens, your neighborhood may have a potentially deadly infestation of disease-wielding mosquitoes, but the state cannot tell you for sure.
A spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Health said this week that they were unable to pinpoint the locations — or even the neighborhoods — where new cases of West Nile had been found.
The reason given for not being specific was a fear of federal privacy laws. The logic appears to be that pinpointing the neighborhood could — read that: could, not would — identify the victim.
That’s among the craziest case of bureaucratic fear that we’ve seen.
Rather than being worried about the possibility of further outbreaks and an increased risk of infection, our state is essentially willing to allow more people to become infected by sheer ignorance of the problem.
One would think that providing specific location information would help raise awareness of the risk to a higher level. Knowing a case of West Nile broke out “somewhere” in Adams County is much less scary seeming than knowing that case was just down the street.
Granted, the truth is that if a mosquito in Morgantown likely has the disease, one would logically assume that almost all mosquitoes in the area might be infected, too. They do fly, you know.
But the entire matter raises some serious questions about whether or not bureaucracy has pushed out common sense in the office charged with protecting the health and wellness of our citizenry.
Have we gone so far in our society’s quest for keeping privacy front and center that we’re risking public health?
Unfortunately, it certainly looks that way.
Comments
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 12:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like my privacy just as much as the next person, but when it comes to life threatening diseases, ENQUIRING MINDS want to KNOW, NEED to know.
Posted by boredwithstupidity (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can understand not letting people know if someone has a minor contagious disease (though I'd like to know that too). It could put the person in danger of retaliation. But to not let the public know of areas where West Nile is a problem? Common sense has flown out the window in this world we live in.
That's as bad as the city of Natchez saying the city can't afford $5,500 worth of insecticide (that will last almost two years). How much is your life or well being worth? Apparently our votes aren't worth much if politicians can use such flimsy excuses in not protecting the public.
So, before you vote this year (and next), ask the candidates what THEY intend on doing about the West Nile problem.
JMO
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This was exactly what most all of us discussed and agreed upon when this article came out. Glad somebody else at the paper agreed. Why are WE not running the show??? lol
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone checked out the votes on this thing??? last I looked it was 125 yes to 7 no. And I am certain that it will continue to climb in the yes area. so, my question.... just who makes these rules for privacy for certain areas that the health departments like to scream about??? certainly not us law abiding citizens! If it was me or my children or a family member, I would be letting everybody know.... I mean come on! What retaliation could I possible fear from warning others about infected misquitos in our area???
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i know this is totally OFF SUBIECT!! but when i saw you mwhittington saying something about the health department and its 'privacy laws' they burn my butt!! did you know that if your teenage daughter was to get pregnant ad she went to them for a test it came back positive they feel no need in telling the girls parent... saying it breaches the privacy laws??? well i'm sorry! when i was growing up i didn't get no dang privacy until i turned 18 years of age and then still even had to fight for it from my parents.. (not that i did anything right by having it! running off and getting knocked up myself haha!) but i personally think that if the parent should be held responsible for their children till 18 or 21 (whatever it is) then they have a right to know what's going on in their kids life! REGARDLESS OF ANY PRIVACY LAW!!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hearsay but I have been told about two of the cases. One case is in Westover and the other in Morgantown. I actually know the individual from Morgantown and this person has been transferred to a hospital in Jackson. Don't know any other details. Personally if there was a case in my neighborhood I want to know. It prepares one to just an ounce more careful, especially in early morning and at dusk when mosquitoes are move prevalent. Names are not necessary or even specific neighborhoods, but the general area so that everyone can be on the alert and actually know that this disease is close at hand.
Posted by callitasitis (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People,People,People, When did privacy begin to over-ride safety and health issues. Where's the "FOGGING MACHINE?" Let the EPA drag their butts down here and get a good case of West Nile and they'll be begging for the fogging machine too. I was raised in a time when Herman Estes and the Public Works Dept. used the really good stuff. I was running behind the truck everytime it came in our neighborhood, we all did. The fumes were great and we had no mosquittos. If the fumes were bad for you, I'd have been dead many years ago. I had my patio re-done a few years ago. Now, I can't enjoy it because of the mosquittos. They love Citronella. Pleae bring back the fogging machine!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hav'ya stopped to think where this area really could be. Maybe a high fallutin place that the citizens would never let you think they would live in such surroundings. That would really cast a dark cloud there, wouldn't it????? Where could it possibly be????
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THANKS NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT FOR A FOLLOW UP STORY ON THE MATTER. KEEP THEM COMING!!!
Posted by whatsayu (anonymous) on October 11, 2007 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Granted, the truth is that if a mosquito in Morgantown likely has the disease, one would logically assume that almost all mosquitoes in the area might be infected, too. They do fly, you know"
skeeters dont just bite people at home. what if home aint where they got it? people do leave their homes, YA KNOW.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 11, 2007 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another classic example of a published story without thought about the content!
We, "the subscribers,” must be perceived as (expletive) dumb!
From the comments to this article in the paper, I think the subscribers to the paper may be of a higher intelligent than the writers at the paper!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this has been said but it is worth repeating, THEY DO FLY!
So now we know that west nile IS IN NATCHEZ so lets all just be extra careful.
Oh, and I ran behind those fogging trucks too...bring them back!!!!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, you ran behind the fogging trucks and nothings wrong with you? You sure must be very lucky! Now what about the children you have had since, and the possibility of their genitics being messed up? Ask me about that, OK?
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well okay,my one kid is strange...was it that darn fogging truck?
Posted by astrid (anonymous) on October 17, 2007 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay!!! Lets blame the fogging machine for all the wackos in this town.
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