Subject: Re: HELP ME NAME AND SHAME QUINOLONES 

I have a very interesting story. Maybe all of you can help me figure out what to do with it. I live on Long Island, NY, and this past week, the Health Dept. reported that a number of restaurants in the area owned by the same man have had an outbreak of SHIGELLOSIS. This is a bacteria infection that is VERY contagious. Over 500 people, so far, have come down with the symptoms. They treat it with antibiotics. 

I called my 2 drs. and asked them what antibiotic they were going to prescribe and they said CIPRO. I then called the Health Dept. and relayed my fears to them. I also said that if all these people were taking Cipro, and even if 100 of them came down with ADRs, this would be a great groundbreaking find that their ADRs are from the Cipro. I told him about me and my son etc.

He put me on with an Inspector. I relayed the same to her. I said, shouldn't these people be informed about what could happen to them? They should be warned that a week or two can go by or even later, and they will have all these weird things happen to their body and they WILL NOT put two and two together. The inspector, first said I should call the FDA, and told her we went that route already. She also said, she can FULLY understand where I am coming from because a few years ago she had a terrible ADR from Cipro. I asked her if she would allow anyone she knows to take the drug since she knows first hand, and she said she couldn't answer that question.

She said there was nothing the Health Dept. could do and it is up to the patient and their doctors to inform each other.  

WHAT CAN I DO? THIS IS A PERFECT SCENERIO. I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEWSPAPERS WILL EVEN CONSIDER A STORY. 

HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!