He's assuming he just has a bad flu. (I'm scared, however, because he says along with the high fever, his back hurts pretty bad. [?]) He wants to struggle along until his regular trip next week to his doc. (I told him to go NOW, but, [sigh], older brothers always know what's best...) (#120)
You were asked; "Have they notified the health Department?" Your answer:
I don't know. I live across the country from them. I hope someone has...(#122)
You were then asked by "per loin" to: "Give... the name of the company and the venue of the meeting," so that he could "notify both the King County and Seattle Health Departments." You replied:
Thank you for the thought, but I don't want to meddle that openly in my brother's life. But I did get him to schedule a visit to his doctor for TODAY, so I'm sure his doctor will take whatever steps need to be taken. (My brother has asked that I stop pestering [!] him, so that he can sleep through the weekend. I'll know more Monday. (#165)
"per loin" then replied with "I don't give a d*mn how you feel about "meddling" in your brother's life......" thereby setting the tone for a bit of flaming.
I have no interest in any flame here. Likewise, I agree that with your not wanting to meddle in your brother's affairs. I do however (being a Seattle area resident), have some personal concern about what all you describe above. I also would like to know of the company, so as to notify the Seattle/King County Health Department for the same reasons outlined by "per loin." Of course, I do not desire any individual person's names. But as you stated above, this thing is "Bad."
I note that you "got my brother to see a doctor. Now he -- the doctor -- can tell authorities what he thinks is appropriate." Normally I would say this is enough. But due to the seriousness of the situation, I'm sure you would agree that any failings or mishaps on your brother's or the doctors part, to include miscommunication, could have serious consequences.
I am looking forward to you reply - thankyou.
I have given this
a great deal of thought. Here's what
I've done, and my thoughts.
This morning, I filed
a report with King County/
Seattle public
health department. I
explained the situation,
and told them the name
of the company
where my sister-in-law works.
We need, however,
to all go slow here.
How long have you been around?
Do you remember
the daily fear threads
saying that if America
gave Clinton two terms
the National Guard
would start confiscating guns
the very next day?
Do you remember
the daily fear threads saying
that even if Bush
won, Clinton would not
leave office? Remember the
Y2K panic?
I think SARS is bad.
I think it's worse than the feds
are telling us. But
I remind myself
every day that there's always
something scaring us.
And there's always some
basis for the fear that's real.
But fearful people
have sometimes become
kooks. We must not become kooks.
Let's just be careful.
Well, I've had updates
to report. (1) My brother says
so many people
got sick where his wife
works, that many of them went
right away to see
doctors. So far, all --
including my brother and
his wife -- have been told
it's just a cluster
of flu type things, and not SARS.
(2) My own involvment
making conttact with
"Public Health, Seattle and
King County" has been
worth passing along.
Eventually, I did
get to give info.
However, their first
response included this bit:
"I do not know at this time whether we have enforcement capability for those with suspected SARS that go unreported through a medical facility such as a doctor."So, if you suspect