Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) said he only just recently learned about a possible link between Flint's contaminated water and an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, but documents obtained by the Associated Press show the state knew about it nearly a year ago.
Genesee County saw 87 cases of Legionnaires' disease over a 17-month period during which time the public was never told of the outbreak; an outbreak state officials knew could be linked to the water supply.
The Associated Press reports the state knew about the possible link since at least March of last year but didn't disclose it until a few weeks ago on January 13th.
The outbreak was also well known within state agencies, according to emails obtained separately by the AP and other news organizations. Together, the emails offer more evidence that some state officials were dismissive of county health authorities who raised concerns about the safety of the community's drinking water.
"The increase of the illnesses closely corresponds with the timeframe of the switch to the Flint River water. The majority of the cases reside or have an association with the city," Jim Henry, Genesee County's environmental health supervisor, wrote March 10 to Flint leaders, the city's state-appointed emergency financial manager and the state Department of Environmental Quality, known as the DEQ.
"This situation has been explicitly explained to MDEQ and many of the city's officials," Henry said in the email that was forwarded by the DEQ to a Snyder aide three days later. "I want to make sure in writing that there are no misunderstandings regarding this significant and urgent public health issue."
This comes in addition to the mountain of evidence showing state officials knew about levels of lead in the water.
I could go on a lengthy spiel, but I don't think you need me to spell it out for you. This is incurious Republican governance in action. They'd export this incompetence and negligence to all 50 states if they had their way. This is their grand vision.