On October 4, 2025, I contracted Vibrio from eating raw oysters at a Delaware restaurant, where the insurance paid hospital costs exceeded $129,000 for my five-day hospital stay. Low fluid and a systolic blood pressure below 52 rendered me unconscious, where my blood pressure is typically between 95 and 125. Since I passed out when trying to stand on my own, I was transported by ambulance to the hospital. As soon as hospital tests confirmed Vibrio, the South Carolina Department of Public Health contacted me at the hospital to inform me that I had Vibrio, where hospitals are required to inform SC DPH of specific diseases, such as the flesh-eating Vibrio. SC DPH further advised me that they would inform the Department of Agriculture.
Based on an internet search, this Delaware illness has not been reported to the public, even though a Vibrio health concern is known ("Deadly Bacteria Linked to Seawater Spreading up East Coast of US"(https://www.newsweek.com/vibrio-vulnificus-east-coast-bacteria-spread-warm-coastal-water-2099582). In my opinion, the withholding of infectious disease transmission data constitutes censorship of public health information. Concerned that information is being withheld from the public, I informed the affected restaurant on 11/7/2025 of my hospitalization, and I am presenting personal health information in this Op Ed that I started writing a few days ago. That restaurant did not respond
As my research expands, the coverups of national health hazards by government agencies infiltrates many industries.
Addendum: Lead Poisoning Enforced by Aiken, 11/9/2025
Aiken has passed the responsibility for their lead poisoning of Aiken residents to the residents themselves. In a June 2025 circular that was provided through the mail (The Aiken Report). Aiken claimed the following.
'According to the Lead ad Copper Rule of of 2021 and updates in 2024, we must determine the material of water service lines.'
'We need your help! The service line running from your water meter to your home is private property: the City doesn't have records of water lines on private property. We need you to determine the material your water service line is made of and report it to us.'
'By giving us this information, you are helping to keep our water quality high. Your cooperation helps us protect public health and federal guidelines.'
Aiken pretends to be helping us while transferring their irresponsible operations of water systems to residents. Preventable water hammers accelerate lead poisoning. The City then transfers responsibility to residents for checking their water lines by falsely claiming that the City cannot access lead service lines for customers. Service lines are commonly connected to water meters or shutoff valves that are accessible by the City, but the City tells customers to check the other end of that same service line (See Figure 1). By transferring responsibility to citizens, there may be a path to absolve City responsibility for lead poisonings by blaming customers -good for the city - bad for the people of Aiken.
A copy of this Op Ed was forwarded to Aiken along with a response to their lead survey and a statement that 'Important information about Aiken lead poisoning is provided at the end of this Op Ed' (.cityofaikensc.gov/water-line-survey)
(Article changed on Nov 10, 2025 at 8:40 AM EST)
(Article changed on Nov 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM EST)
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