West Virginia

Department of Health, Department of Health Facilities, and Department of Human Services

Department of Health
Department of Health Facilities
Department of Human Services

Public Health Moves from Response to Recovery Following Chemical Leak

3/21/2014

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Just over two months have passed since the West Virginia 
Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health began its response to 
the January 9, 2014 Elk River chemical spill that left nearly 300,000 residents without drinking 
water. The Bureau for Public Health’s focus has now shifted from response to recovery. 
 
“Our goal from day one has been to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the public in our 
communities,” said Dr. Letitia Tierney, State Health Officer and Commissioner for the Bureau for 
Public Health. “We are moving forward with the recovery effort beginning to focus on 
community assessments.” 
 
Tierney has sent letters to 865 physicians across the 9-county region who may have treated 
patients affected by the chemical spill. The correspondence requests the provider voluntarily 
report in aggregate, all symptomatic patients with exposure to water contaminated by MCHM 
through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation. 
 
“Emergency department surveillance and working with the West Virginia Poison Center helped 
us determine immediate critical health concerns,” Tierney said. “Now that we have moved into 
the recovery phase, we’re reaching out to healthcare providers to obtain data on any patient that 
may have been exposed to the contaminated water. Any and all data that these healthcare 
providers believe that could be connected to the chemical spill, we welcome.” 
 
Additionally, Tierney said the Bureau for Public Health is awaiting the results of the CDC’s chart 
review of patients who visited the emergency department with concerns from January 9-23, 
2014. This information along with the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency 
Response (CASPER), which will be conducted in April, are all part of the recovery phase. 
 
“It’s important to remember that this incident has been unprecedented for West Virginia and the 
country,” Tierney added. “We have been moving forward in a careful, thoughtful and 
deliberative manner working closely with the CDC, health departments and medical providers.” 
 
To learn more about the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, go to www.dhhr.wv.gov/bph. 

 

Contact Information

Toby D. Wagoner, Public Information Officer, Bureau for Public Health, Telephone: (304) 356-4042
Contact Us | Site Map
To view Nondiscrimination Policies and Plans, please click here.