# 5825
With heightened pandemic awareness due to recent reports on the bird flu virus, a small number of novel swine flu cases showing up in Pennsylvania and Indiana, and the release of the movie Contagion this weekend, pandemic preparedness is once again ripe for discussion.
Professor John Oxford - Scientific Director of Retroscreen Virology Ltd. and a Professor of Virology at St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospital, co-author of two standard medical texts, and author of more than 250 scientific papers – is often sought out for his expertise on pandemic influenza.
In the UK, when the BBC wants a quote or opinion on influenza or pandemic issues, you’ll find it often comes from Professor Oxford.
At the start of the influenza pandemic of 2009 Oxford was publicly insisting that the real number of infected from the H1N1 virus in the UK was many times greater than the British government was saying (see A Yank From Oxford).
As it turned out, he was right.
Later today (Sept 9th), Professor Oxford will take part in an online Webinar hosted by International SOS - a private sector healthcare, medical assistance, and security services company - where he will discuss last week’s announcement (see FAO Warns On Bird Flu) of an emerging new clade of the H5N1 virus, and pandemic preparedness issues for businesses and organizations.
According to the Press Release, topics to be covered will include:
- What is the real risk of another influenza pandemic? Has it increased?
- When might the pandemic occur?
- How severe might a bird flu H5N1 influenza pandemic be?
- How prepared are we as a nation, and internationally, for a deadly virus?
- What extra precautions should travelers and expatriates take when visiting / living in affected countries?
Following the discussion, webinar attendees are invited to participate in a Q&A session with the keynote speakers listed above.
WHEN:
Friday, Sept. 9, 2011
11 a.m. EDT
HOW:
Follow this link to join the webinar.
If you are unable to attend, use this link to request a recording, to be emailed no later than three business days after the webinar.
WHO: Human resources, security, risk and safety, travel, medical and business continuity professionals will benefit from this webinar.
Access to this webinar requires advance registration, after which you will receive instructions on how to attend via email.
Professor Oxford is never shy about sharing his views, and so this webinar ought to make for interesting viewing.
