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UW-Madison News Release--Influenza Experts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/08/05

CONTACT: John Lucas, (608) 262-8287, jplucas@wisc.edu

UW-MADISON EXPERTS AVAILABLE ON INFLUENZA TOPICS

MADISON - With Wisconsin entering the traditional season for influenza and the wider world preparing for the possibility of a global influenza pandemic, issues of prevention, vaccination and public health are constantly in the headlines. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has experts that can offer useful perspectives to media on range of related issues.

The experts include:

- Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a professor in the department of pathobiological sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine, (608) 265-4925, kawaokay@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu. Kawaoka is an international authority on influenza research and vaccine issues. His most recent research has helped detail why some viruses are more pathogenic than others and how vaccine production might be improved.

- Dennis Maki, Ovid O. Meyer Professor of Medicine; head, section of infectious diseases, department of medicine, (608) 279-7330 (cell), dgmaki@medicine.wisc.edu. Maki is an international expert on the control of emerging and infectious diseases and has written extensively on the threat of avian influenza.

- Donald P. Moynihan, La Follette School of Public Affairs assistant professor, (608) 263-6633, dmoynihan@lafollette.wisc.edu. Moynihan has research and teaching interests in performance management, homeland security, citizen participation and public budgeting and can discuss how state and federal officials need to cooperate on a high level to effectively respond to pandemic situations.

- Kathleen M. Poi, executive director, University Health Services; clinical professor, nursing, (608) 262-1885, kmpoi@wisc.edu. In addition to managing vaccination efforts for students, Poi also is working with state and local officials to prepare a pandemic response plan for the university community. She also is a resource on flu prevention.

- Craig M. Roberts, clinical assistant professor, population health sciences; team manager/epidemiologist, community health and epidemiology, University Health Services, (608) 262-6720, cmrober1@wisc.edu. Roberts is an expert on public health and epidemiology, communicable diseases, immunizations and flu prevention.

- Edward Friedman, professor of political science, (608) 263-2272, friedman@polisci.wisc.edu. He is an expert in U.S. relations in East Asia (especially Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong) and Chinese politics.

- Paul Hutchcroft, associate professor of political science, (608) 263-2279, hutchcroft@polisci.wisc.edu. He can provide a broad perspective involving politics and national issues in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

- Christopher W. Olsen, professor, pathobiological sciences, (608) 265-8681,

olsenc@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu. Olsen can discuss influenza viruses in animals or people and zoonotic diseases transmissible from animals and people.

- Jonathan L. Temte, associate professor of family medicine, (608) 263-3111, jon.temte@fammed.wisc.edu. Temte specializes in the study of influenza, common viral infections in primary care, bioterrorism, seasonal patterns of disease and vaccine issues.

- Al Gunther, professor of life sciences communication, (608) 262-1506, agunther@wisc.edu. Gunther deals with the perceived influence of media on major events. He can discuss how media coverage can potentially affect public policy and whether media coverage accurately represents a major event.
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