Of the ways to mitigate the costs of an influenza pandemic, having a pre-pandemic vaccine is critical, said Ruben Donis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Donis spoke to nearly 150 researchers from around the world during the Emerging Infections Symposium: A Tribute to the One Medicine, One Health concept, which took place Nov. 14 at Kansas State University. Donis addressed the challenges of creating effective vaccines and the need for early detection.
K-State's own researchers addressed public health from varying angles. For example, an interdisciplinary team of K-State researchers is working on a project called Epicenter to develop mathematical models and simulation software that can predict how and where diseases spread. More information is available at:
K-State also offers a master's of public health degree, http://www.k-state.edu/mphealth/
Such efforts and K-State's leadership in the areas of animal health and food safety -- more than $70 million on research since 1999 -- have put the university among the finalists for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a federal center for animal health.
The Heartland BioAgro Consortium, which is leading an effort to bring the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to Kansas, and the Kansas Bioscience Authority were major sponsors of the Emerging Infections Symposium.
International researchers attending the conference came to the K-State campus from across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Speakers represented such nations as Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada.