Public health agencies have adopted a surprisingly obtuse strategy when it comes to addressing a prevalent public health crisis. We can only hope other government agencies don’t follow their misguided lead.
The California Department of Public Health on Monday sent out a news release with important information: Two people had died from West Nile virus, including one from our area.
West Nile is a mosquito-borne illness that affects animals and humans. In this mosquito-prone area, it’s a big deal — and the reason local mosquito control districts spend so much money each summer trying to kill the pests.
The state press release, forwarded by Glenn County officials to our newsroom, was remarkably devoid of helpful information. It said the “deceased persons” were residents of Glenn and Yuba counties.
There was no indication where the person lived in Glenn County, the age of the person, how long the person had been experiencing symptoms or if he or she had symptoms at all, where the person died, or even whether the person was a man or a woman.
We know the very young and very old — and anybody with a compromised immune system — are particularly susceptible to West Nile. Did the person who died fit into one of those categories? Hard to say.
Knowing nobody is immune from West Nile, it could have been a physically fit young adult. Was it? The government didn’t want you to know.
Why? Apparently it’s a policy, undoubtedly dreamed up by some bureaucrat in Sacramento who knows what’s best for us and tells all his or her minions to toe the line.
The thinking, relayed to us by those minions who aren’t allowed to think for themselves: “We try to keep the gender and location of the person out of the messaging.” (See, it’s not about information. It’s about “messaging.” This is what happens when government is run by public relations “experts.”)
Anyway, the explanation continued: “… Where a person lives in the county is not necessarily where they were they were when they received their bite. It can give a false sense of security. A resident may think they are not at risk if they live in a different part of the county.”
We sincerely doubt people are that stupid, but it’s nice to know what the government thinks of our intellect.
The “messaging” from the government is that everybody is at risk, so we all need to take precautions if we’re outside and around mosquitoes. That is very true. But it’s no need to withhold vital information.
Imagine if the California Highway Patrol responded to a fatal accident in Glenn County and would not tell reporters or the public the age of the victim, the circumstances or the accident or where it occurred. Imagine if the CHP sent out a press release saying, “A person died at an undisclosed location, but we’re not saying where because all drivers should be more careful and everyone is at risk.”
Imagine if local police put out a press release about a stolen car, but wouldn’t say where the car was stolen, whether the car was locked or unlocked, or even what kind of car was stolen — again, being vague to further the “messaging” that all vehicle owners need to be careful and all are at risk of theft.
Fortunately, we reached a Glenn County Mosquito and Vector Control District official who told us a little more — that it was a male who lived in the northern part of the county. He apologized he didn’t have more information.
Maybe things were being kept under wraps by public health to aid the “messaging.” But we’re confident that reading the story about a man from northern Glenn County who died from a mosquito bite didn’t make women from southern Glenn County go out dancing in the rice fields that evening because they are immune.
A Department of Public Health is a public agency. Start acting like it and answer the public’s questions.
