County Boards of Health Have Powers to Institute Quarantines
By SHELLEY HANSONArticle Photos
Fact Box
WHAT's the Difference?
- Isolation applies to people who are known to be ill with a contagious disease.
- Quarantine applies to those who have been exposed to a contagious disease but who may or may not become ill.
WHEELING - Before vaccines were a common tool to fight the spread of disease, health officials had another method of keeping germs at bay - quarantines.
And though they may not need to use a quarantine this flu season, county boards of health have the power to implement one if necessary. The Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health recently was reminded of its quarantine powers, now that the swine, or H1N1, flu is here.
Administrator Howard Gamble said it is likely the measure only would be used if there were large numbers of people dying in the community. As a protective measure, people may be told stay at home; in other cases, they may be told to refrain from large gatherings, such as a football game, to help prevent further spread of a disease like the swine flu.
"I hope we don't have to do it," Gamble said.
He noted he can remember old photographs showing quarantine signs on people's homes. Stashed away in a drawer in Gamble's office is an old sign related to a quarantine. It states: "Notice to milkman. A case of communicable disease exists in this house. Bottles of milk are not permitted to be left here. Householders may place outside jars or pitchers into which milk may be poured. This card shall be removed only by the health department."
According to West Virginia Code 16-3-2, refusing to obey a quarantine order can result in a misdemeanor charge and fines of up to $200. A quarantine can be implemented to prevent the introduction of a disease into a community or prevent the spread of a disease.
The board can confine an infected person or person liable to spread infection to their residence. If they do not have a home in the county, a place will be provided for them. If necessary, the board can "summon sufficient guard for the enforcement of their orders in the premises."
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Shark88
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10-20-09 9:50 PM
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H1N1 is in the spotlight but the topic of quarantining viruses is important, especially when it comes to the cost of national health care. If HIV carriers were quarantined, it might help stem the tide of cases in the US and worldwide. Although HIV is known to be predominately spread through sexual contact and dirty needles, there are other ways it can be transmitted. Due to confidentiality, the number of HIV/AIDs cases is uncertain. It is estimated that there are over 1.1 million known HIV cases with approx.50,000 new HIV cases each year. It is estimated that 14,000 people die each year from AIDS. Regardless of political protections, HIV/AIDS remains a deadly contagious virus. This is very important because national health care could be picking up the tab for all current and future HIV cases. When it comes to quarantine the government should be focusing on the deadlier viruses. There is a vaccine for H1N1.
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EllisWyatt
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10-20-09 7:58 PM
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Getting this shot should be a personal choice. I do not trust the government, especially this Maoist administration, to tell the truth. Oppressive governments have ALWAYS created a crisis from which they can benefit. The more you depend on them, the more they control you. I cannot believe that we have become a fat, bloated, bankrupt nation full of whiners, thieves, traitors and sheeple. I worry very much about the future of this nation. The debt, for example. Apparently, we have to destroy our economy to elimiate a healthy component of our environment, CO2, because we are worried about future generations. Yet, we have no problem leaving $70 TRILLION in debts for our grandkids? What goes is a vaccine or "green" technology when our children are starving and enslaved?
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skunky
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10-20-09 4:46 PM
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Oh and I agree on the Death Panel this as well, I am of course over 50 so I am not on the list for getting protective shots. Legal Euthanasia or Population Control? Truthfully, I'm a little bet scared as I do not fall into the salvationed group. H1n1 looks like like a back end to me. hinie.
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skunky
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10-20-09 4:40 PM
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Someone needs to get the Health Dictators off their throne. I don't remember anyone making them permanent our CZARS. By the way CZARS is uncontitutional. I do agree on cleanliness, and do praise the schools for their attentiveness in this matter, but remember in my Psychology class that being to clean is also a mental sickness.
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formerohvalleyresident
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10-20-09 1:15 PM
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If necessary, the board can "summon sufficient guard for the enforcement of their orders in the premises." If they can call out the National Guard for the flu, I wonder what knee-jerk powers the government can make up in the case of a real emergency? "Never let a crisis go to waste"-Rahm Emmanual
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WhachewtalkinboutWillis
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10-20-09 12:47 PM
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Google "1918 Spanish Flu", read a little, and then let's discuss how the Health Departments are "scaring people to death". Better yet, take a walk through an old grave yard and pay particular attention to how many folks met their demise in that year? Coincidence? Naw, they must have been "scared to death"! How's that for a "death panel"?
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weshatch
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10-20-09 12:36 PM
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It sounds like thge paper or the health department is trying to scare people. I can not say way they feel the need, but it sure feels like a local version of big brother. Maybe they just want to scare us all into getting the shot. I "large numbers of people are dying in the community" I hope I would be smart enough to stay home anyway. I am not a black helicopter type, but I can't help but think this H1N1 may be an engineered virus anyway.
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HillsMan
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10-20-09 12:32 PM
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What the*****is wrong with these people (Health Dept)?? They must see big money grants for their department to be allowing this type of publicity to be released. Are they trying to scare the*****out of people to get their hands on our taxpayer dollars? Why would they entertain the news media with information that could possibly start a public panic concerning quarantines?? In my opinion that is a very stupid move. "Summon sufficient guard for the enforcement of their orders in the premises"...get real health department...Can't wait till they tell the people of this valley "no football games"...LOL
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acousticportal
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10-20-09 12:31 PM
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After 2 decades of HIV/AIDS information and education, you idiots still think it can be transmitted by being in the same room, like H1N1 can. Come on.
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WhachewtalkinboutWillis
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10-20-09 11:54 AM
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Sharky - You can't be serious or that dumb, can you?
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Shark88
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10-20-09 11:35 AM
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What about the deadly AIDS virus? It is much deadlier than H1N1. Why haven't those with AIDS been quarantined?
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WhachewtalkinboutWillis
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10-20-09 9:36 AM
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For gods sake, someone, anyone, QUARANTINE "THE KOOL AID" and lock the gate around Area 51. The village idiots are loose again!!
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catlover2
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10-20-09 7:47 AM
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Ellis is a moron,yeah that felt good...
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EllisWyatt
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10-20-09 6:15 AM
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WAR IS PEACE! FREEDOM IS SLAVERY! IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH! Sorry. I have to go get ready for Two Minutes Hate, where I can denounce Goldstein..I mean, George W. Bush.
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Momof3
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10-20-09 3:23 AM
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Something is fishy with this whole H1N1 scare.
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formerohvalleyresident
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10-20-09 12:52 AM
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Am I getting paranoid or does it seem that “the government” is increasingly looking for every opportunity to take away our freedom and impose their will on the people? It’s just the flu, chill out! I heard on talk radio that some hospitals are already making plans to “boot out” critically ill patients to make room for flu victims. “Throw those old cheapskate Medicare patients under the bus, these flu victims have Blue Shield, nurse. INCREASE PROFITS, STAT”!!! Sure sounds like a “Death Panel” to me!
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