Credit – How To Catch Flu – Imperial College
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MOSAIC (Mechanisms of Severe Acute Influenza Consortium) was set up in the summer of 2009 at Imperial College in the UK during the H1N1 pandemic to investigate `the clinical, viral, host genetic, immunological and molecular events underlying severe influenza infection’.
Sponsored by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council (MRC), UK – MOSAIC’s network of 45 researchers and their teams have advanced our knowledge of influenza, including learning about the role that the IFITM3 gene plays in the hosts vulnerability to influenza (see Luck Of The Draw).
Getting people to understand that influenza is neither trivial, or predictable has been a major frustration for public health officials for decades. It is a message we saw resonate briefly during the opening days of the 2009 pandemic, but as it became apparent the H1N1 virus wasn’t extraordinarily deadly, the public quickly lost interest.
In an attempt to help raise public awareness on the dangers of influenza – and its ability to mutate into new and potentially deadly strains - MOSAIC researchers have collaborated with collaborated with illustrator Steven Appleby and animator Pete Bishop to make a short (and entertaining) animated film called 'How to Catch Flu'.
What better way to end the week than to spend a few quality minutes with a sage, anthropomorphized flu virus?
For more on this film, and MOSAIC, Imperial College, London published a background article today under News & Events. Follow the link below to read:
Flu tells its story in new film
by Francesca Davenport 25 July 2014
Influenza researchers have collaborated with an illustrator to make a short animated film titled 'How to Catch Flu'.
The film is presented by a flu virus who gives a comical and slightly macabre account of flu’s history and its possible future. Sitting in an armchair, it informs viewers of its evolution over the years, its preferred victims and what can facilitate or stop its spread. The film then provides advice on how to avoid the flu and limit its impact.
