Viruses and Pandemics - Video

Public health agencies across the globe are working to mitigate the impact of the 2009 pandemic caused by swine-origin in?uenza A (H1N1) virus. Prior to the development of an effective vaccine, the primary modes of control include careful surveillance, social distancing and hygiene measures, strategic school closures, other community measures, and the prudent use of antiviral medications to prevent infection or reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. When medical resources are limited or measures are costly, successful disease control hinges on rapid and reliable determination of when, where and how to implement such measures to most effectively reduce the burden of disease. In this talk, Meyers describes how mathematical models of in?uenza transmission are being used to improve our understanding of this new virus and support real time public health decision-making.