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As a reminder to all, we are experiencing a pandemic. In very simple terms this means, we were faced with an infectious agent of unknown origin with unknown ways to detect it, and unknown ways to mitigate it. In this case, mitigations means to at least control its spread. In the beginning, we had no tests for detection, and obviously no ways to treat it. The whole world was starting from scratch. Of course, it did not take long to define the virus and realized that it was in a family of viruses that the world had seen before. Mitigation was then potentially possible based on previous world pandemics of a similar nature, i.e. SARS, MERS. The world even had the experience of EBOLA (different virus) but required more extreme mitigation procedures in a much smaller location. Well, then remember, the US was totally unprepared, i.e. not enough masks, gloves, disposable gowns, ventilators etc. Obviously, no treatments or vaccines. Of course, with all viruses, there was constant mutations. As the world was responding on all fronts, new variants (a collections of mutations in a new strain of the original virus) emerged. In other words, the treatment and mitigation strategies had to keep up with this constantly moving target of the newest and most current variant. (There have been over 50,000+ mutations detected so far of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus.) New variants have emerged and are given names based on the Greek alphabet. Currently, the delta variant has been the most prevalent strain with omicron variant probably going to be the most prevalent soon in all areas of the US. With this constant evolution of the “enemy,” we have to evolve our strategy to combat the new “enemy.” What worked for treatment/mitigation yesterday may not work today. The scientific and healthcare communities fully understands this. New treatments and new strategies are constantly being developed. Unfortunately, the public and our political leaders (especially in Indiana including the Governor, the legislature, the Indiana Department of Heath with politically appointed staff), in general, have not seriously taken these concepts and implemented then in any type of serious or effective public heath approach for the citizens of Indiana. We have no outside expert providing guidance for our State. That is why Indiana is in such a dire situation with very catastrophic consequences to come. Obviously, public health has never been a priority for our State. The new initiative by the Governor for the task force on public health is only glossing over issues that will never be addressed. We have a public health crisis now. Action needs to occur now. It only appears that economics and “personal choice” trump any serious concern for the public at large. In a civilized society, we make scarifies for the common good. With this pandemic, selfishness and greed seems to rule the day
The comment above is just adding to my “Letter to the Editor.” I appreciate the IBJ for allowing it to be published.
Phillip D. Toth, MD, FACP