Both the Health Departments of NYS and Westchester County, NY, are
absent
with regard to subject. A 22-month child was believed to have placed a
raccoon
fecal residue in his mouth and quickly expelled it. Parent immediately
visited
pediatrician and was advised to look for blood in stools. Parent under
husband's
advice collected sample. Both health departments, above, advised that the
sample should be analyzed by a Veterinarian. A premier northern
Westchester
Hospital advised that a Vet should be sought. A visit to a to a
parasitologist
at a
regional teaching hospital, with students present, summarily advised that
there
was no hope; the students by the way were chided for not knowing this
parasite.
Forensic analysis tests the assumption that something, like
Baylisascariasis,
has a procedural process, and if it is responsible. In Westchester County
and
New
York State the responsibility is totally absent: bee stings, rabies and
flu are medically integrated. The CDC advises seeing a physician well
after
the disease has manifested observable symptoms, and then misdiagnosed.
With all the studies and reports illustrating the harm, there is no
coordinated
thrust to lift the issue for National Address, in terms of mandated
education
beyond the limited specialty available now. In the rare situation where an
actual
fecal sample was obtained, a vet lab isn't the place to handle the
analysis.
Forensic analysis of the kind related herein would be a start.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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