Released May 1, 2009
CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson University is monitoring the outbreak of H1N1 flu. For the latest announcements go to http://www.clemson.edu/newsroom/special_reports/flu/.
H1N1 (swine) flu is not an animal disease outbreak. It's safe to eat pork cooked properly. Swine production operations currently do not pose a flu threat to public health. For more information, contact Clemson University veterinarian Michael K. Martin, DVM, 803-788-2260, ext. 230, or mmarti5@clemson.edu or Peter Kent at 864-656-4355 or pkent@clemson.edu. You also can see the Clemson Livestock Poultry influenza A Web site at www.clemson.edu/public/lph/ahp/influenzaa.html.
There are 219 H1N1 flu groups on Facebook. Most are small, but one has more than 1,800 members, according to Clemson sociologist Jim Witte. The speed of the spread of information in this Internet age is a concern, but we must keep in mind that we still have the same dilemma as is always the case with rumor and gossip: how to separate out fact and fiction. Witte said we may know the H1N1 flu is a real crisis when the communication overwhelms the Internet as it did on Sept. 11, 2001. For information contact Witte (864-656-3816, jwitte@clemson.edu) or News Services’ Teresa Hopkins (864-656-1222, hopkin1@clemson.edu).
Clemson economist Scott Baier knows the national and world economies are fragile, but he doesn’t anticipate the H1N1 flu outbreak having a major negative economic impact. Baier, along with John Alexander, Breazeale Professor of Investments at Clemson, sees certain stocks reacting to an outbreak of H1N1 flu, but those ticks mostly will be seen in commodities and transportation. For additional information contact Baier (864-656-4534, sbaier@clemson.edu) or Alexander (864-656-0547, alexanj@clemson.edu) or News Services' Teresa Hopkins (864-656-1222, hopkin1@clemson.edu).
The current "H1N1 flu" outbreak illustrates the risk to human health posed by viruses, according to Hugh Spitler, associate professor of public health science. Viruses are "genetically labile" or, in other words, able to trade information with other strains of viruses. This often results in a "mutation" or "new" virus to which humans have little or no resistance. The classic 1918 world flu pandemic also was a swine flu, originating in pigs and making the crossover to humans. Spitler, whose research interests include social and behavioral epidemiology, can be reached at 864-656-7434 or hspitle@clemson.edu. Contact Ross Norton (864-656-4810, rnorton@clemson.edu) in News Services for assistance.
One of the difficulties of dealing with a pandemic outbreak is accurately forecasting the size, spread, duration, severity and location of origin for the event. Delays in identifying the illness can be critical in attempting to control it. Clemson University assistant professor of industrial engineering Sandra Garrett and colleagues from Purdue are working to establish plans that can be in place before an event is identified so that policy-makers and government officials can detect a pandemic at an earlier stage, thus limiting the impact. They've also worked with health officials and hospitals in the test state of Indiana to determine an “Alternative Care System” that may need to be activated once a pandemic reaches the local area. For more, contact Garrett (864-656-3114) or garrett@clemson.edu or Susan Polowczuk in News Services (864-656-2063) or spolowc@clemson.edu.
Try to put the dangers in perspective and stay educated and informed. These are some tips for handling the fear and anxiety over the H1N1 flu, according to Clemson psychology professor Cindy Pury. She said we need to ask ourselves “What are the actual chances getting the flu?” “What are the chances of becoming dangerously ill?” Understanding the actual risk and knowing ways to protect ourselves is key in easing the stress. For information contact Pury (656-7876 or cpury@clemson.edu) or News Services’ Teresa Hopkins (656-1222 or hopkin1@clemson.edu).
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http://www.clemson.edu/newsroom/articles/2009/may/pandemic.php5
Source: Sandra Garrett, 864-656-3114, garrett@clemson.edu
Writer: Susan Polowczuk, 864-656-2063, spolowc@clemson.edu
