The Katrina Cough

[Domitan]

This was posted in Dailykos by blksista, but this bears repeating anywhere.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/11/13/123330/64

A large number of people along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts are developing a condition that some have dubbed "Katrina cough," believed to be linked to mold and dust circulating after Hurricane Katrina.

Health officials say they are trying to determine how widespread the problem is. There are suggestions that it is popping up regularly among people who have returned to storm-ravaged areas, particularly New Orleans.

And New Orleans, which has a history of being particularly lethal for blacks developing asthma, bronchitis or other lung and respiratory diseases, has something new to battle in the aftermath of the storm.

Dr. Peter DeBlieux, an associate medical director of the Spirit of Charity, a MASH-style clinic that has been set up in downtown New Orleans, suggests that this condition could be lethal for patients who are already suffering from respiratory diseases, who are organ-transplant survivors, and who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Imagine how it would be if this bird flu was also on the march at the same time the rebuilding and clearance of the houses and mold was going on.

[Domitan]

1. kick

kick

[BOSSHOG]

2. There are many people who think there is a conspiracy of sorts

to keep black people from returning to New Orleans but I don't buy that argument. The katrina cough is prevalent and the popular political target (the lower ninth ward) was near an oil spill. The land is toxic where thousands of poor and middle class blacks lived as well as others. The EPA and the Mayor say it is not safe to go back there right now. What's wrong with that decision? Those people have nowhere safe to live; its not a conspiracy. Yes, the people want to go home. So would I. But if your health would be endangered by going home, I defer to the judgement of the scientists.

[Chovexani]

3. I believe very strongly there is a conspiracy

But I don't think this is part of it. This is just the EPA and the Mayor doing their jobs, trying to keep people safe.

But no one will ever be able to convince me there aren't a lot of powerful interests who would benefit from keep black folk out of New Orleans, and aren't doing their damnest to make it that way.

[Domitan]

4. kickapoo juice

[pitohui]

5. i haven't noticed any cough

sounds like scare-mongering to me

if you have respiratory disease, hire someone else to gut your house or do other mold mitigation, seems fairly common sense to me

i've only had to take my allergy pill once since i returned, in years gone by, in october and early november i would have to take an allergy pill daily

i would have pointed out that it is ragwood season, except, as i've just said, i don't know anyone experiencing this so-called cough

[lavenderdiva]

6. a friend of mine who evacuated to our home for Katrina,

and is now returned to her home in Jefferson Parish, has 'Katrina Cough'. I spoke with her earlier in the week, and she seems to be non-plussed by it. She says many people there have it. She knows she got it from her work, which requires her to restore moldy paintings. Me? I'd be scared to death, not knowing what the ramifications of such a thing might be...