Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2013-10-11

Duration: 00:09:33

Subjects: Public health | WATER SUPPLY | Amoeba

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Sanford, Shauna Producer
• Woods, Virnado Photographer
• Vicknair, Julie Speaker
• Riley, Stacey, Sr. Speaker
• Kliebert, Kathy Speaker
• Gab, Brian Interviewee
• Peralta, Dave Interviewee
• Hebert, Corey Interviewee
• Guidry, Jimmy Interviewee

This segment from the October 11, 2013, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Shauna Sanford’s report on the discovery of brain-eating amoebas in the water systems in St. Bernard Parish and DeSoto Parish. Sanford reports that a four-year-old recently died in St. Bernard Parish due to the amoeba. She attends a community meeting in St. Bernard Parish, which includes comments by concerned residents, Julie Vicknair and Stacy Riley, Sr., as well as Secretary Kathy Kliebert of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Sanford also interviews: Brian Gab of B & G Fresh Market; St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta; and Dr. Corey Hebert, an emergency and pediatric physician. Sanford and Charlie Whinham then conduct an in-studio interview with Dr. Jimmy Guidry, the state health officer. He discusses: how the amoeba got into the two water systems; whether the amoeba could be present in other water systems; and the importance of chlorinating the water in order to kill the amoeba.