Currier Lecture

As part of the National Library Week events at the State Library, nearly 70 people attended a lecture titled "Tracking Bird Flu Anxieties Through the Lens of 20th Century: Progress in Preventing Influenza."

The speaker, Dr. Russell Currier, retired Iowa State Public Health Veterinarian, was both instructive and entertaining as he informed the crowd about early influenza history with an emphasis on how these viruses work and the role of birds and swine in propagating new strains.

Dr. Currier spoke about:

• contributions by scientists with Iowa connections who assist with flu virus studies
• risk factors promoting bird flu and consequent human exposures
• current research in developing an effective bird flu vaccine

Although he encouraged the audience to get the seasonal flu vaccination each year, he said that there is little cause for alarm and not much chance that the bird flu will become a pandemic. He added that the best way to prevent the spread of the virus to domestic birds is to not allow them to come into contact with wild birds.

For more information on the bird flu, see Dr. Currier's bibliography

A video of this lecture may be borrowed from the State Library by clicking here.