In the Wake of Hurricane Andrew-Reply

Abstract

In Reply. —I appreciate the clarifications offered by Drs McDonnell and Hlady to statements made by people I interviewed. I also wish to offer a clarification or two. First, estimates of deaths attributable to Hurricane Andrew ranged from 13 to nearly 100, depending on the definition of cause being used (eg, do heart attacks occurring during cleanup operations count?). I used the number preferred by those close to the situation whom I interviewed, but have no argument with the official figure of 14 (13 and 15 have also been reported). As for the real or perceived threat of infection from Han tavirus or other agents after the storm, my article addressed the possible threat and did not indicate that any outbreaks occurred. As for the usefulness of mass immunization, I am aware that opinion in the scientific community is split; indeed, an epidemiologist of my acquaintance believes that mass immunization