Join the Berkeley faculty for an impromptu teach-in on swine flu: the virus, its spread, and the likelihood of a pandemic. Panelists will describe the epidemiology and biology of the illness (which is caused by the A/H1N1 virus) and discuss the effectiveness of the US and international response to the outbreak. Panelists: Art Reingold (Public Health), Russell Vance (MCB), Wayne Getz (ESPM), and Amy Herr (Bioengineering) The recent re-emergence of swine flu has triggered a strong response from the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the pharmaceutical industry--which claims that an effective vaccine could take months or years to produce. Impacts are being felt broadly, with governments issuing travel warnings, stock markets declining, and schools closing (including a school in San Jose, CA, where a student tested positive for the flu earlier this week). To date, swine flu has been confirmed in nine countries including the US, where nearly 100 people in 9 states have been infected. In Mexico, there have been more than 850 cases of pneumonia since March, with 59 deaths. So far, 26 of these cases have been confirmed as swine flu. Sponsored by The Berkeley Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases ( globalhealth.berkeley.edu ) and The Center for Global Public Health ( globalhealth.berkeley.edu ).
Share on del.icio.us
Share on digg
Share on Technorati
Share on reddit
Share on Yahoo!
Share on Furl
