Newswise — With the World Health Organization raising the H1N1 flu to the highest pandemic level (Level 6), faculty members of The University of Texas Health Science Center say the world economy could be affected but the illness has run its course in the United States " for now.
"Declaring the H1N1 outbreak a pandemic could have an immediate impact on export/import trade and could lead to travel restrictions," said C. Ed Hsu, Ph.D., an associate professor of health informatics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. "Many countries, including the U.S. may need to look at laws including border closure and admission of persons from endemic countries." Herbert DuPont, M.D., professor of infectious diseases and director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas School of Public Health, said it has already reached pandemic numbers but that's not the key issue.
"The important issues about the H1N1 are what it will do in the Southern Hemisphere now that that area is entering the winter season; the challenges in making a vaccine against the virus that will be here by the fall flu season in the U.S.; and the speed and severity of the H1N1 disease in the U.S. in the fall," DuPont said. Over the summer, raising it to a pandemic level will not impact most Americans, said Richard Bradley, M.D., chief of the Division of EMS and Disaster Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "The raising to the pandemic level is a response to statistics and not to the severity of the infection," Bradley said. "For us in the U.S. there is no major significance or effect of the level being raised. It only means that it is spreading across continents." Charles Ericsson, M.D., professor and head of clinical infectious disease at the UT Medical School at Houston, doesn't advise Americans to change their travel plans.
"It's been pandemic all along; nothing is different," said Ericsson, director of the university's Travel Medicine clinic, who sees patients at UT Physicians clinics, Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center . "Don't panic. The virus is still mild."
Pandemic level, or Phase 6, is the highest on the WHO's pandemic alert system. As of June 10, 74 countries have officially reported 27,737 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 141 deaths.
Experts who are available for interviews to discuss H1N1 flu include:
"¢ Herbert DuPont, M.D. is a professor of infectious diseases and director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas School of Public Health. With over 30 years of experience in infectious disease and travel medicine, DuPont can speak on the development of swine flu, symptoms that will arise, how to reduce the risk of becoming infected and how to keep yourself safe if you are traveling.
"¢ C. Ed Hsu, Ph.D., MPH, is associate professor of public health informatics at The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences at Houston and associate director of health informatics at the Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness at The University of Texas School of Public Health. In Hsu's Preventive Health Informatics and Spatial Analysis laboratory, he is using public health informatics to address critical public health challenges, including global health surveillance and emergency preparedness. Relevant to these topics, Hsu has contributed a dozen peer-review journal articles and a book chapter. Hsu can discuss how public health informatics is being used to prepare for and monitor cases/outbreak of H1N1, and the potentiality of a possible endemic in the U.S., and pandemic in a global health context.http://www.utsurvey.org/swineflu.html
"¢ Richard N. Bradley, M.D., chief of the Division of EMS and Disaster Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, can discuss how Americans might be affected.
"¢ Charles Ericsson, M.D., can discuss H1N1 flu and measures to protect yourself during travel. He is professor and head of clinical infectious disease at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He also is the director of the university's Travel Medicine clinic and sees patients at UT Physicians clinics, Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital and Memorial Hermann"Texas Medical Center.
"¢ John Herbold, DVM, Ph.D., is associate professor of epidemiology and director of the Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness at The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio Regional Campus. As a veterinarian, Herbold can discuss the origin of influenza viruses in humans and the role of animals in this recent outbreak. He can also discuss why H1N1 flu is passing from human to human unlike the bird/avian flu. In addition, Herbold can address the importance of clinicians, veterinarians and public health workers joining together to stabilize and fight this outbreak.
"¢ Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, M.D. is a professor of epidemiology at The University of Texas School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus. Fisher-Hoch is one of the world's leading virologists. She is able to discuss any topic related to the H1N1 flu.
"¢ Brent King, M.D., can provide information about H1N1 flu, hospital plans for responding to this infectious disease when it returns in the fall and how to best protect children. He is chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston and provides emergency medical care to both children and adults at Memorial Hermann"Texas Medical Center, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital.
"¢ Victor Cardenas, M.D., Ph.D. is an associate professor of epidemiology at The University of Texas School of Public Health El Paso Regional Campus. He is able to discuss first hand experience in influenza A outbreaks in several countries, including Mexico and Colombia.
"¢ Richard Castriotta, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, can discuss the flu's leading causes of death, which are respiratory failure and/or pneumonia. Castriotta sees patients at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital and the UT Pulmonary Medicine clinic. "¢ Luis Z. Ostrosky, M.D., can discuss the infectious nature of H1N1 flu and can provide details on what patients can do to reduce their risk of becoming infected or spreading it to others. He is available for interviews in both English and Spanish. Ostrosky is associate professor of medicine and epidemiology in the Division of Infectious Diseases at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He also is medical director for epidemiology at Memorial Hermann"Texas Medical Center.
"¢ Robert Emery, DrPH, vice president of safety, health, environment and risk management at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, is available to discuss flu prevention, as well as protective equipment for health care professionals. Emery, who has a faculty appointment at The University of Texas School of Public Health, also can discuss emergency preparedness and business continuity plans in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
"¢ John Halphen, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, can discuss how flu-like illnesses affect the elderly, including the danger of dehydration, the risk of secondary bacterial infections and potential complications for patients who may be on medications such as diuretics. He coordinates geriatric services at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, part of the Harris County Hospital District.
"¢ Elda Ramirez, Ph.D., RN, is available to do interviews in both English and Spanish. She can describe symptoms of H1N1 flu and discuss when it is appropriate to consult a primary care provider or seek medical attention at an emergency room. Ramirez is assistant professor in The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing and emergency medicine nurse practitioner in The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
"¢ Gloria Heresi, M.D, professor and interim director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, is available for interviews with Spanish-language media. She can discuss prevention and treatment of the swine flu as it relates to children.
"¢ Susan Parnell, RN, a nursing instructor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing, is available to discuss infection control and explain how cases of influenza or other outbreaks are investigated.
"¢ George Delclos, M.D. is a professor of occupational medicine at The University of Texas School of Public Health. Dr. Delclos is able to advise on H1N1 flu-related work life issues such as working from home if you feel ill or what employers should look for in their employees.
Other experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston also are available for interviews.
To schedule interviews, please call the university's Media Relations Team. The 24/7 media hotline is 713-500-3030.
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