Early
this morning,
the organizers of the DOMAINfest
Global conference sent
attendees of this month's conference in
Los Angeles a letter updating them
on what is known so far about the
outbreak of illnesses reported by many
guests soon after the show ended. Public
health officials investigating the
outbreak still have not identified the
cause and I was surprised to see in the
new letter that they have not gotten
all of the co-operation they need from
attendees in order to find the
answers we are all waiting for. The
letter said that only about half
of the more than 700 people whom emails
were sent to have completed the important
online survey the Los
Angeles County Public Health Department
is using to collect crucial data needed
to guide their efforts. If you were at
the conference it is very important that
you fill out this brief private
survey even if you did not get
sick! |
Image:
Suat
Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Here
is the complete letter we received at 4:02am
(U.S. Eastern time) Wednesday, Feb. 16:
Dear
DOMAINfest Global Attendee:
We are encouraged to hear further reports that more people who have been sick with the mysterious illness are feeling better. For those of you still feeling ill, we sincerely wish you a speedy recovery.
This communication will update you on the situation, and will ask you to assist health authorities if you haven’t already done so.
Identification
of the Illness
Since
the first reports of the illness, our attention
has been focused on helping the Los Angeles
County Department of Public Health identify the
illness itself as well as its source.
While there has been a great deal of
speculation, authorities have not yet determined
the cause. In
fact, they released a statement earlier today
saying that "not
everyone with reported symptoms is likely to
have the same illness because a number of
respiratory infections with similar symptoms are
circulating". They are making
few assumptions and need further assistance from
some of you in order to complete their work.
Health
Department Survey
If
you have not yet taken the Public Health
Department’s confidential survey (distributed
by them on February 11 and again on February
12), please do so immediately.
Only about half of the 715 DOMAINfest
attendees have completed the survey.
While this is helpful, more responses are
needed to collect enough data.
The models and Mansion staff attending
the Mansion fundraiser are also filling in their
own separate survey.
Please
complete the following attendee survey EVEN IF
YOU DID NOT BECOME ILL:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HGN3T7N
Free
lab test for attendees in the Los Angeles area
If
you became ill and live in the Los Angeles area,
the Public Health Department is offering free
laboratory services to help diagnose the
condition. For
details, please contact Dr. Rachel Civen at [email protected].
Alternatively, your personal physician
can collect samples and arrange with Dr. Civen
for courier delivery to the appropriate lab.
Details on the free lab test are included
in
this letter from the Public Health
Department.
For
individuals living outside the Los Angeles area,
or overseas, you can contact the following
person at the CDC in Atlanta for details on how
to obtain the proper lab tests.
Laurel
Garrison
1-404-639-3424
[email protected]
If
your doctor has already performed lab tests,
please have them forwarded to the following
Department of Public Health official.
All submissions are kept strictly
confidential.
Dr.
Rachel Civen
[email protected]
Via fax 1-213-482-4856
Please
help with accurate information
We
extend our thanks to industry colleagues who
have been keeping people informed and for
encouraging sick attendees to seek medical
attention.
As the LA County Public Health Department
investigation continues, we ask for everyone’s
patience and to avoid the temptation to
speculate or spread rumors, since unfounded
information can needlessly slow down the inflow
of accurate information necessary to correctly
identify the cause of this illness.
We
hope that everyone will do their part in
promptly providing detailed information and lab
reports so that health authorities can help us
uncover all the facts.
Thanks
again for your help.
Sincerely,
The
DOMAINfest Team
www.domainfest.com
[email protected]
The
observation in the letter that "
"not
everyone with reported symptoms is likely to
have the same illness because a
number of respiratory infections with similar
symptoms are circulating" is
consistent with what we have seen in reports
from people who fell ill. A few said that family
members caught the illness from them.
Bacterial infections, which we know many had or
may still have, are not contagious, but
flu viruses are and they are widespread at this
time of year.
|
In
a letter the Los Angeles County Health
Department sent to attendees Monday
(Feb. 14) they asked that all who fell
ill have lab tests done to help identify
what caused them to be sick (even if
they have since recovered). As noted in
the letter those tests are being offered
at no charge to those in Los
Angeles County, however the majority of
the attendees do not live there (or
anywhere close to Los Angeles).
The
tests could be a considerable expense
for those who have to pay for them
themselves so I sent a letter to a
doctor on the investigation team that I
have stayed in touch with to see if
anything can be done for those outside
Los Angeles County to offset the cost
that may be preventing them from getting
the tests done. The doctor said it is an
issue they are aware of and are
discussing with the CDC. I will
update you on any developments there -
in the meantime, if you have not filled
out the survey,
please do so now while you are
thinking of it. |
Image:
renjith
krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
|
