FLINT, MI – The Flint doctor whose study on children brought the city’s water crisis to international prominence has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a Twitter post Thursday afternoon, Mona Hanna-Attisha stated “I tested positive. I’m doing fine.”

She posted an update Thursday night on her Facebook page, noting “I was lucky to have a relatively mild case. I had a bad cold and a cough for a couple weeks. I lost my sense of taste and smell, which sucks for someone who loves spicy and garlicky food.”

Hanna-Attisha noted she has been in self-isolation for weeks.

“I have no idea how I caught it,” she said. “And I’m so eager to get back to work!”

Friends: As many of you heard, I tested positive for COVID-19. I’m totally on the mend. I was lucky to have a... Posted by Mona Hanna-Attisha on Thursday, April 2, 2020

Hanna-Attisha also put out a call for action.

“Please support the millions of people who are going to be devastated by this man-made crisis. Yes, the virus isn’t man-made, but this crisis is,” she said. “We will have hundreds of thousands of deaths in our country because of the incompetence of our current federal government. This was worsened by decades of distrust of science and the defunding of our public health infrastructure. Add that to overwhelming poverty and health disparities that disproportionately make this crisis worse for our most vulnerable communities.

“We must find a way for this physically-isolating crisis to remind us we are all in this together,” said Hanna-Attisha.

Her Twitter post includes the hashtags #StayTheFHome and #ICantSmellAnything along with asking those who’ve recovered from the virus to donate their plasma as she has.

I tested positive. I'm doing fine.



If you are recovering, consider donating your plasma. I just signed up. #StayTheFHome #ICantSmellAnythinghttps://t.co/vXBJAjMUOb — Mona Hanna-Attisha (@MonaHannaA) April 2, 2020

Hanna-Attisha shared a link to the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project at the end of her post.

The project is described on its website as “a group of physicians and scientists from 34 institutions in 17 states who have self-organized for the purpose of investigating the use of convalescent plasma in the current COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a March 15 Crain’s Detroit Business story, Hanna-Attisha called for the nationwide closure of bars, restaurants, malls, movie theaters, restriction on domestic air travel, and only essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies to remain open in an attempt to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

Read all of MLive’s coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Related news:

Dr. Mona tells ’60 Minutes’ 80% of Flint kids tested need special services

Biggest single-day jump in Genesee County coronavirus cases; Lapeer doubles

Thursday, April 2: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Greater Flint community donates thousands of meals to hospital workers

UM-Flint turns residence halls into resting space for medical professionals

Flint stops pipeline replacements to mitigate spreading coronavirus