Expert Alert: Avian flu and infectious diseases
Are we on the verge of a global flu pandemic? Health experts have been monitoring the H5N1 strain of influenza viruses for years. Outbreaks of bird flu have spread throughout Asia, Romania and Russia. Recently, Australian health officials discovered avian flu antibodies in three pigeons imported from Canada. Will North America be hit next, and if so, are we prepared? At the same time, a series of natural disasters have raised concerns about the spread of contagion in affected communities.
McGill University, McGill University Health Centre and Jewish General Hospital experts Drs. Brian Ward, Michael Libman and André Dascal have been closely following the threat of the avian flu pandemic along with infectious diseases in the wake of natural disasters.
Dr. Brian Ward, Chief, McGill's Division of Infectious Diseases, and Associate Director of the Centre for Tropical Diseases, is an expert on viruses and vaccines.
Dr. Ward can be reached at 514-934-1934 ext. 42810 or by contacting Ian Popple, MUHC Communication Coordinator (Research), at 514-843-1560 or by ian.popple [at] muhc.mcgill.ca (email).
Dr. Michael Libman, Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Infection Control Officer, St. Mary's Hospital, is an expert in infection control, travel/tropical medicine and lab testing for infectious diseases.
Dr. Libman can be contacted at 514-934-1934 ext. 42811.
Dr. André Dascal, McGill professor, Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology, and senior infectious disease physician and microbiologist (Jewish General Hospital), is an expert in emerging infections and rapid diagnostic methods for detecting infectious agents.
To arrange an interview with Dr. Dascal, please contact Glenn Nashen or Suzanne Gold, Jewish General Hospital, 514-340-8222 ext. 5818.
