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Summit set to tackle possible flu epidemic

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  • Summit set to tackle possible flu epidemic

    Summit set to tackle possible flu epidemic


    By Rosemary Horvath
    Sun Staff Writer

    Pandemic influenza authority Dr. Arnold S. Monto will be the keynote speaker at a summit in Alma on Oct. 23 designed to prepare the general public and professionals in the public service, business and health areas. <!--#include virtual="/includes/ads/newsinstory.html"-->
    The deadline to register is Friday.

    Sponsored by the Mid-Michigan District Health Department, the summit is the second in a series of educational sessions to increase understanding of the threats and implications of an influenza pandemic.

    "The most resilient communities are the ones that plan and work together," Health Officer Kim Singh said.


    The health department district includes Gratiot, Montcalm and Clinton counties.

    A pandemic influenza coordinating committee was an outgrowth of a summit held in 2006 to discuss avian flu, more commonly known as the "bird flu."
    "The thought was that the bird flu would be the cause of our next pandemic," Singh said. "There is still that potential but a pandemic may be from a different strain altogether."

    Monto is professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He travels through continents sharing knowledge and research on prevention and treatment of influenza, respiratory infections and infectious disease.

    His base has been Ann Arbor since 1965, when he joined the Tecumseh Study, a large-scale, long-range epidemiological experiment to measure and understand the chronic and acute disease dynamics of the Michigan community.

    His lab is currently involved in a large study called Flu-Vacs that is comparing the effectiveness of a traditional killed-virus flu shot to the attenuated-virus nasal spray.

    More than 2,000 healthy adults in Mt. Pleasant, Ann Arbor and Livonia were given a shot, a nasal spray, or a placebo and then monitored to see whether they become infected and how their antibody levels respond.

    A pandemic influenza "is not a question of if, but when" is the theme of the summit.

    There have been three pandemics in the last century Singh said.
    "Look at history and the timing of them," she said. "There is a cycle for pandemics. Pandemics are expected to continue. Viruses can mutate and change. What we currently have vaccines for would not address the new viruses."

    Singh said the committee?s goal is to be prepared.

    "It?s human nature to be complacent," she said. "This is an opportunity to expand our knowledge. The first summit gave basic information. This one has a world renown physician that specializes in influenza and respiratory illnesses."

    The program includes a panel discussion featuring officials from the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Community Health and Michigan Department of Transportation.

    Breakout sessions in the afternoon will focus on emergency management, school, household and business preparation.

    Already signed up to attend are 80 members of the business community, chambers of commerce, community organizations, first responders, government and religious leaders and health professionals.

    The summit lasts from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Masonic Pathways on Wright Avenue. There is no charge to attend. Lunch will be served.

    Preregistration is required by phoning Leslie Kinnee at (989) 831-3646 or emailing lkinnee@mmdhd.org.


    "In the beginning of change, the patriot is a scarce man (or woman https://flutrackers.com/forum/core/i...ilies/wink.png), and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for it then costs nothing to be a patriot."- Mark TwainReason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. -Thomas Paine
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