U.S. Virgin Islands Request for Assistance

Fax sent bg

:

349774A14A

DEPT OF HEALTH

B4-81-15 B1:18p

Pg: 1/2

GOVIRNMENT OF
THE VIRGIN I$I.AND$ OF THE UNITED $TATES
VIRGIN I$LANDS DEPARTMINT OF HEALTH
OFFICCE OF

Tl'R COMMTSSIONEROF HEALT}I
Tel; (340) 77441l7

Fur (3a0) 7774001

1303 HOSPITAI-GROUND
SUITE 10

CHARIOTTEAMALIE

sr. rtfoMAS. u.s.v.t, fi)80267?2

Aprill.,2015'
Patrick Breysse, PhD, CIH

Director
cDc NCEH/ATSDR
National Center for Environmental Health and
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Centers for Disease Coritrol and Prevention
Chamblee, OCCO
Atlanta, GA 30341.

Re: Requesf Epi-Aid assistance from Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in the aftermath of the methyl bromide release at Sirenusa
Condominium Resort, Cruz Bay,5t. John, U.5. Virgin lslands (USVI)
Dear Dr. Breysse:
I request the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's'and Center for Disease Control and
Prevention's (ATSDR/CDC) assistarrce in the form of an Assessment,of Chemical Exposures Epi-Aid to
perform an gpidemiologic assessment on the release of methyl bromide at the Sirenusa Condominium
Resort. During this incident, a toxic substance was released causing acute human health effucts. We
would like ATSDR/CDC to coordinate activities with the Department of Health. We are requesting
ATSDR/CDC:

o
' .
r
.
.

€ontact residents of the condo complex who stayed in any of the fumigated units either during
or after the application of methyl bromide;
Contact condo complex employees who may have worked in any fumigated units either during
or after the application of methyl bromide;
Contact emergency responders, law enforcement, or other people who may have entered
ffeated units;
Should provide these parties with situational awareness of the potential symptoms that may
have presented ai a result of exposure to methyl bromide;
In questioning potentially affected persons, ascertain if they have experlenced any health effects
consistent with methyl bromide exposure during the time periods during and after the
fu migation activities;

Fax sent bs : 348774814A

a

84-81-15 61:18p Pg: 2/2

DEPT OF HEALTH

Determine if they have received treatment from a physician for symptoms consistent with
methyl bromide exposure, or a documented health effect from an actual methyl bromide
exposure; and
Other ections necessary to complete the assessment effort.

It is possible this assessinent may extend to other areas throuBhout the Virgin lslands where methyl
bromide may have been applied in a residentialsetting.

Sincerely,

Acting Commissioner

Date:
Duane HoWell, MSHS, RRT, AE-C
U.S. Virgin lslands DOH Acting Cornmissioner

DH/eme'

#7'r s'