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SPH Topics: FLU

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Background: With or without pandemic, influenza is a serious health threat. Every year, about 36,000 Americans die of the flu. From the first effective influenza vaccine to the FluMist nasal spray vaccine, the University of Michigan has been at the forefront of efforts to combat this viral killer. SPH experts are staying on the forefront of the H5N1 avian flu watch worldwide. More information on UM flu resources is available through the university Health System and News Service.

What is influenza and what are its symptoms?
 Many of us refer to “the flu” as though it’s a single virus, but it is actually several different types and subtypes of related viruses that undergo constant genetic changes. These changes are why you need a new flu shot every year. Symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Children can have additional gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but these symptoms are uncommon in adults. Although the term "stomach flu" is sometimes used to describe vomiting, nausea or diarrhea, these are rarely related to influenza.
More flu facts from the CDC.

What is avian flu and what are its symptoms?
It is an infection caused by avian (bird) influenza viruses. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds. While wild birds usually do not get sick from them, domesticated birds can become very sick and die from the flu and it is very contagious among birds. Symptoms range from typical flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, ARDS and other severe and life-threatening complications. The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus caused the infection.
More avian flu facts from the CDC.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pandemic Flu Site

Find breaking news on avian flu (Google News filter).

UM SPH flu experts:

Photo of Arnold Monto, Germ HunterInfluenza and avian flu:

Arnold S. Monto, M.D., Professor of Epidemiology, (734) 764-5453; asmonto@umich.edu
Has served on advisory board to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and consults each year on the design of the annual influenza vaccine. Fall 06/Winter07 Findings profile on Dr. Monto.

Matthew L. Boulton, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Dean for Practice, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, (734) 936-1623; mboulton@umich.edu.
UM SPH Associate Dean for Practice; was previously the Michigan state health department's chief epidemiologist and director of the Bureau of Epidemiology.

Quarantine law:
Peter D. Jacobson, J.D., M.P.H., Professor of Health Management and Policy, (734) 936-0928; pdj@umich.edu
Focuses on the relationship between law and health care delivery and policy.

Disease transmission:
Mark L. Wilson, Sc.M., Sc.D., Professor of Epidemiology, (734) 936-0152; wilsonml@umich.edu
Studies global patterns of disease and relationship to human activity.

Spread of infectious disease:
James Koopman, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Epidemiology, (734) 763-5629; jkoopman@umich.edu
Current project with the MSU-based Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment looks at how flu virus spreads in different environments, such as a school or an office.

Sandro Cinti, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor (Infectious Diseases), (734) 647-9829, scinti@umich.edu

For SPH experts on many more topics, see the Experts List.

School of Public Health Contact Information

Terri Mellow, Director of Communications,
University of Michigan School of Public Health
109 S. Observatory St., 3542 SPH I
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
Telephone: 734-764-8094; Fax: 734-763-5455; E-mail: twm@umich.edu

If you want to be added to regular distribution for news releases, contact Laura Bailey, 734-764-1552.

Printed from http://www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/flu.html on May 18, 2008