News

Mailman School of Public Health faculty have significant expertise in the areas of emerging infectious disease and emergency preparedness and response, as well as lessons learned from historical examples of disease outbreaks and public health response.

Columbia's Preparedness website is an excellent resource for information about emergencies in general and influenza outbreaks in particular. The site was developed by the University’s Pandemic Preparedness Working Group, which is co-chaired by Stephen Morse, PhD, professor of clinical Epidemiology. Dr. Morse has particular expertise in the area of emerging viruses/infections and pandemic preparedness. Please visit the Preparedness site for updates and helpful links specifically about swine flu.

Faculty members affiliated with a number of our centers, including those listed below, are actively engaged in the swine flu public education process through interactions with the media.

The Center for Infection and Immunity, directed by W. Ian Lipkin, MD, John Snow Professor of Epidemiology, and professor of Neurology and Pathology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, is dedicated to global research and training programs focused on pathogen surveillance and discovery, including the establishment and implementation of programs for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of acute outbreaks of infectious disease, and to understanding how gene-environment-timing interactions contribute to health and disease.

The National Center for Disaster Preparedness, directed by Irwin Redlener, MD, clinical professor of Population and Family Health, is dedicated to the study, analysis, and enhancement of the nation's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from major disasters, including natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and terrorism. The NCDP has a wide-ranging research, training and education, and advocacy agenda, and engages the public health workforce and communities in preparing for catastrophic events, while helping to integrate preparedness efforts into the nation’s existing infrastructure. The NCDP encompasses the CDC-funded Center for Public Health Preparedness at the Mailman School, which has trained over 15,000 responders in public health preparedness, incident management, and recognition and response to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction using table-top drills, exercises, and distance learning technologies.

Selected media highlights include:

8/17
New York Daily News
Swine flu should not disrupt school schedule this fall
Epidemiology Professor Stephen Morse of Columbia University Mailman School agreed that school closings likely do little to stop the spread of swine flu - and said the city seems ready.

7/30 CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight
While there is new evidence that there could be a severe shortage of swine flu vaccine, Stephen Morse says the real problem won't be in initial trials but in the production phase.

7/24
 Bloomberg News
Argentina Flu Death Mystery Sparks Probe for Virus Mutation
Scientists from the Mailman School of Public Health and Argentina’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases plan to decode the complete genomic sequences of at least 150 H1N1 virus samples to fight the scourge of swine flu.

6/11
 ABC News Good Morning America
Swine Flu to be Declared Pandemic
Dr. Irwin Redlener is interviewed about how to talk to kids about the WHO’s announcement of swine flu’s pandemic status.

6/9 New York Times
How a Mild Virus Might Turn Vicious
Swine flu is already doing a near-perfect job of keeping itself alive by invading human noses and inducing humans to cough it from one to another, said Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. 
“A really aggressive flu that quickly kills its host” — like SARS and H5N1 avian flu — “gives itself a problem,” Dr. Lipkin said.

4/28 National Public Radio / Marketplace
Swine Flu
David Abramson answers questions about Swine Flu surveillance technologies.

4/28 CRAIN’S New York Business
New flu spotlights antiquated vaccine-making (login required)

W. Ian Lipkin discusses the efficacy of vaccines to combat flu outbreaks, “Clearly, the vaccine we decided to make in February is not the one we will run in the fall.” He continues, "It’s much easier to make a course correction with modern technology than a horse and buggy."

4/28 Bloomberg News
Inside Look - Preparing for a Swine Flu Pandemic (video)
Irwin Redlener talks on the healthcare system’s ability to react to a flu pandemic

4/27
 ABC News / Good Morning America
Swine Flu Infections Spread to 11 States After First U.S. Death Confirmed Irwin Redlener talks about the transmission of Swine Flu.

4/27
 WNYC / Brian Lehrer
Swine Flu: Sorting Truth from Hyperbole
W. Ian Lipkin answers questions about the nature of Swine Flu.

4/27
 Fox Business News – National
Pro's and Con's of Obama's Health Care Plan
John Rowe discusses Swine Flu preparedness.

4/27
 MSNBC
Quarantine decision will be left to the locals
Andrew Garrett discusses government response to epidemics and the pros and cons of quarantine.

4/27
 Bloomberg News
Killer Pandemic of 1918 Gives Lessons on Limiting Flu
Approaching Swine Flu from a historical perspective, Stephen Morse answers questions about the legacy of the 1918 pandemic and precautions that citizens can take.

4/26
 WCBS-AM 880 (CBS) New York
Stephen Morse discusses Swine Flu outbreak and containment.