April 27, 2009
Swine flu experts
Note to Journalists: The Purdue University experts below can discuss the following issues:Influenza virus development - April Johnson
Swine respiratory diseases - Sandra Amass
Swine Influenza Research - Roman Pogranichniy
Clinical signs of swine influenza in livestock - Stephen Lenz
Disease surveillance - Stephen Hooser
Food safety and livestock - Paul Ebner
Economics of pork industry - Chris Hurt
Virus transfer from animals to humans - David Sanders
Flu prevention and safety - Pam Aaltonen
Pandemic flu preparedness - George Avery
April Johnson, assistant professor of epidemiology and public health. Johnson has experience working with the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has general knowledge of influenza viruses, and she can speak about how novel viruses such as this can develop.
Home page: https://www.vet.purdue.edu/cpb/faculty_profiles/johnson_april.html
CONTACT: 765-494-0562, johns274@purdue.edu
Sandra Amass, professor of swine medicine and associate dean for engagement in the School of Veterinary Medicine. Her research interests are in swine respiratory diseases, diagnostic techniques, evaluation of vaccines and evaluation of management strategies. Amass is an expert on animal agroterriorism and biosecurity procedures for emergency responders.
CONTACT: Kay Hagen, administrative research and communication assistant, 765-496-3467, kjh@purdue.edu
Roman Pogranichniy, assistant professor of veterinary microbiology. Pogranichniy is leading a swine influenza project this summer. His lab is working on developing a swine influenza vaccine with funding from a Showalter Trust Award. His research interests are in veterinary diagnostic and infectious diseases of production animals, as well as emerging infectious disease, such as diagnosis, pathogenesis and vaccine development.
CONTACT: Kay Hagen, administrative research and communication assistant, 765-496-3467, kjh@purdue.edu
Clinical signs of swine influenza in livestock
Stephen Lenz, associate professor of veterinary pathology. He is a swine disease expert who can speak on clinical signs of swine influenza in pigs. His research interests are pathology and diagnostic immunohistochemistry.
Home page: https://www.vet.purdue.edu/cpb/faculty_profiles/lenz_stephen.html
CONTACT: 765-496-1554, slenz@purdue.edu
Stephen Hooser, director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and associate professor of toxicology. Hooser can talk about the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and its role in the surveillance of zoonotic and animal diseases.
Home page: https://www.vet.purdue.edu/cpb/faculty_profiles/hooser_stephen.html
CONTACT: 765-494-6831, shooser1@purdue.edu
Paul Ebner, assistant professor of animal sciences. He is an expert on microbiology issues associated with livestock, including food safety and human health implications.
Home page: https://www.ansc.purdue.edu/faculty/ebner.htm
CONTACT: 765-494-4820, pebner@purdue.edu
Chris Hurt, professor of agricultural economics. Hurt is an expert in livestock and grain markets, commodity-pricing strategies, and livestock futures market performance. He has examined factors influencing the structural changes in the pork industry.
Home page: https://www.agecon.purdue.edu/directory/details.asp?username=hurtc
CONTACT: 765-494-4273, hurtc@purdue.edu
Virus transfer from animals to humans
David Sanders, associate professor of biological sciences. Sanders specializes in viruses that cause human disease and the transfer of viruses from animals to humans. He also can speak about influenza vaccination policy and societal preparation for an influenza pandemic.
Home page: https://bilbo.bio.purdue.edu/~viruswww/Sanders_home/sanders_main.html
CONTACT: 765-494-6453, retrovir@purdue.edu
Pam Aaltonen, associate professor, director of engagement and interim assistant head of the School of Nursing. Aaltonen can talk about what people can do to protect themselves from the flu virus and what people can do to recover faster if they are already sick. She teaches courses in public health science, public health nursing, and integrated nursing care over the life and health continuum. Aaltonen is a member of the American Public Health Association and the Indiana Public Health Association.
Home page: https://www.nursing.purdue.edu/facstaff/?uid=aaltonen
CONTACT: (765) 494-4041, aaltonen@purdue.edu
George Avery, assistant professor of health and kinesiology. Avery specializes in preparedness and policy for health matters. For example, he examines how the health and political system would respond to an emergency, such as an epidemic. He is familiar with bioterrorism policy, as well as regulatory policy, health-care quality, health-system organization and managed care. Avery also is working with the Department of Defense on issues related to the role of medical and public health civic action in conflict prevention and stabilization operations.
Related news release: https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2008b/080707AveryPlanning.html
Home page: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/hk/faculty/avery.html
CONTACT: (765) 496-3330, gavery@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
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