Meningitis scare!

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

i live in the pacific northwest, and meningitis occurances happen here more than other places in the us. this is not new, will never be odd...guess it is the wet weather...but no one knows.

anyway...we had a few cases, which we always do, but this time within days of eachother...so now the media is going nuts over this scare...and people with anything from flu symptoms to stiff necks are comming in in droves or calling 9-11 out of the woodwork!!! it is getting silly actually, and it tying up 9-11 and er's big time!!!!!!

well, my hubby is a paramedic...and to quell some of their fears too...a doc wrote this memo to them...and i thought i would share it with you...it is funny as heck, down to earth...and well..this doc is a crack up (and very good!) anyway!

(changed the memo somewhat, leaving out info that can be confidential...and altering it so that i don't step on any feet! lol!)

"the illness is certainly not good news for the unlucky few who get it, but

this is not, i repeat, not, bird flu or infuenza where great waves of

sickness sweep across a population in a pandemic at large.

those of you with direct patient contact or in the rigs driving should

receive the easy-to-take prophylaxis. even this is probably overkill, but

it is reassuring. medics in the er for other reasons who watched the gurney

go by, or who might later have shaken hands with the treating medics on the

calls do not need prophylaxis.

anyone who thinks that they need treatment because they petted a dog that

ran across the field whereon played the brother of the next door neighbor of

one of the cases should probably see me personally.

hopefully this provides both clarity and reassurance."

i love this doc!!!!!!!! lol!!!!!!!!:chuckle

have a great day!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and meningitis occurances happen here more than other places in the US. This is not new, will never be odd...guess it is the wet weather...but no one knows.

I've heard that strep is also another quite common affliction in that region. It must be the wet weather...