Scott Co. gives $2,000 to fund man's autopsy

Standard Democrat

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County contributed money for the autopsy of man who died Feb. 1, and commissioners said the money was well spent.

"We felt like this was a public health issue," Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel said Tuesday.

A male client of Green Meadows Retirement Home died Feb. 1. The man, about 30 years old, fell down in the street, said Dr. Don Cento, pathologist at Missouri Delta Medical Center. On Friday, commissioners authorized contributing $2,000 toward the cost of the autopsy.

Commissioners said that while a rumor of several people dying from a common illness is not true, there were legitimate concerns.

Cento said those who came into close contact with the man who died, such as ambulance and medical personnel, were given antibiotics as a routine precaution. Cento said meningitis is one among several diseases that pathologists check for as they eliminate possible causes of death.

While the final autopsy results are not in, meningitis has been ruled out, Cento said.

The county budget has a line item for public health in the general revenue fund, officials said.

"We felt like we acted in the best interests of the residents of Scott County," said Commissioner Jamie Burger. "That's what this fund is set up for."

"Our concerns are for the health and welfare of Scott County residents," Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said. "We had to act on it fairly quickly -- we didn't know what we were up against."

Priggel said the county may possibly get reimbursed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.