>> NARRATOR: As the criminal
investigation was getting
underway, the scientific
investigation into the
Legionnaires' outbreak was also
getting organized.
>> We started meeting with the
state regularly.
And when we first started
meeting with them, they were
very collegial, and it was
pretty much, "We will open the
keys to anything if it can help
understand this."
>> NARRATOR: Shawn McElmurry
had pulled together a team of
23 scientists and experts from
around the state.
>> We were all focused on making
sure that we didn't have another
outbreak, another season
outbreak.
And so there was a lot of
pressure to get this done by the
time summer started.
>> NARRATOR: But as the months
went by, the team says the
state wouldn't authorize them
to start the search for the
source of the outbreak.
Dr. Zervos was the
infectious-disease expert, and
he was worried about the delay.
>> It was critical to start
right away, because by June, we
expected to see more cases of
Legionnaires' disease, and there
would be more deaths, which is
what we expressed in a meeting
that included top leadership at
MDHHS.
>> NARRATOR: The scientists say
they met with Nick Lyon to urge
him to step up surveillance for
Legionnaires' cases.
>> I remember my colleague
telling him that if he didn't do
that, you know, people could
die.
Unfortunately, Nick Lyon's
response was that, "Well,
they have to die of something."
>> I, I was, you know, I was
flabbergasted, and I didn't
say anything right then.
Although it was a situation
where you're just, I mean,
you're just in shock as a result
of him saying that, of the
director of the health
department.
>> NARRATOR: Nick Lyon declined
to be interviewed.
In a letter, his attorney said,
"Director Lyon did not make that
crass remark."
He said the team's work was one
of Lyon's top priorities and
blamed any delays on the
scientists.
