Reuters Blogs Flublogia On Emerging H7N9

 

 

# 7055

 

Many readers are no doubt familiar with journalist, author, and film producer Peter Christian Hall, whose pandemic inspired book American Fever was published in 2012. 

 

In 2011, Peter interviewed Crof, Scott McPherson, Cottontop, and myself for an article on flu bloggers, and our reaction to the movie Contagion, for The Huffington Post (see Contagion Grips 'Flublogia').

 

Yesterday Peter contacted me in regards to a story he wanted to write for Reuters, and I suggested he might want to talk to Jason Anthony Tetro, coordinator of the Emerging Pathogens Research Centre in Ottawa, who knows a heck of a lot more about virology than I do. 

Peter ultimately interviewed Jason, Sharon Sanders at FluTrackers, and myself for his article, which can be read on the Great Debate Blog, at Reuters.

 

New bird flu strain creates fear and surveillance

By Peter Christian Hall

April 2, 2013

An emerging bird flu that is mysterious and deadly is haunting China. With four fresh H7N9 cases reported in Jiangsu Province and no indication as to how three Chinese adults caught the little-noted avian flu virus that killed two of them in March, the global medical community is hoping the new flu will calm down until China’s health system can determine how it spread.

(Continue . . . )

American Fever: The `Viral’ Video

 

 

 

# 6630

 

It’s a fairly quiet morning in Flublogia, and so I hope you’ll indulge a brief departure from our regular fare of disease outbreak and disaster news while I unabashedly plug a friend’s book.  

 

A little over three years ago I featured a blog (see Catching An American Fever) on Peter Christian Hall’s online pandemic novel American Fever.

 

 

Peter is an accomplished journalist, feature writer, novelist, and film producer who’s work has appeared in the The Huffington Post, Reuters, and Rolling Stone – just to name a few.

 

Last year Peter interviewed Crof, Scott McPherson, Cottontop,  and myself for an article on flu bloggers, and our reaction to the movie Contagion, for The Huffington Post (see Contagion Grips 'Flublogia').

 

In American Fever Peter weaves links to real-life flu blogs (including Crofsblog, Effect Measure, Scott McPherson and AFD) into his disturbing story of a New York City blogger who watches his world unravel into a dystopian nightmare during an H5N1 pandemic.

 

 

The web version remains online (edited, tightened up, and better than ever) which you can access for free, but now there is an e-book, and a printed version you can purchase (see It Gives You Fever).

 

This week, Peter unveiled the winner of a video contest, where invited filmmakers to come up with a `video trailer’ for his book.

 

You can watch David Rodriguez’s winning entry below.

 

 

 

 

As far as American Fever is concerned - while I enjoyed it immensely - I have to hope that Peter’s dark vision of what happens to outspoken flu bloggers during an H5N1 pandemic never comes to pass.

 

I keep repeating to myself . . . It’s only fiction . . .

It Gives You Fever

 

 

# 6090

 

 

Amid blogging the sound and fury of this past week’s controversial bird flu news, I’ve spent a number of good hours enjoying a freshly minted copy of Peter Christian Hall’s pandemic novel American Fever, which he was kind enough to send me.

 

You may recall that twice in 2009 (Catching An American Fever, A Recurrent Fever) I wrote about the genesis of this online novel, which is written through the eyes of a New York City flu blogger as he watches his world unravel into a dystopian nightmare during an H5N1 pandemic.

 

Hall - a well established writer, journalist, and filmmaker – has seen his works published in The Huffington Post, Reuters, and Rolling Stone – just to name a few.

 

Peter recently interviewed Crof, Scott McPherson, Cottontop,  and myself for an article on flu bloggers, and our reaction to the movie Contagion, for The Huffington Post (see Contagion Grips 'Flublogia').

 

 

In American Fever Peter weaves real-life flu bloggers into his narration, referring to (and providing links) to most of Flublogia as the novel progresses.

 

The web version remains online (edited, tightened up, and better than ever) which you can access for free, but now there is an e-book, and a printed version you can purchase.

 

Although I miss the ability to click and follow embedded links (of which Peter provides hundreds), personally I find it a lot easier to read a printed novel than one that is online. 

 

It’s probably an age/eyesight issue.

 

Since I’m not a professional book reviewer, for a true literary dissection I’ll refer you to a couple of reviews of American Fever (here and here) that have appeared elsewhere.

 

For my part I’ll say that I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, and actually learned (and in some cases re-learned) a few things about flu in the process.

 

I do hope that Peter’s dark vision of what happens to outspoken flu bloggers during an H5N1 pandemic never comes to pass.

 

I keep repeating to myself . . . It’s only fiction . . .

 

Bottom line:  American Fever – catch it, before it catches you.

Flu Wiki Event: A Conversation With Peter Christian Hall

 

 

# 5946

 

 

This coming Wednesday evening (Nov 9th) novelist, film maker, and writer Peter Christian Hall will be a guest `speaker’ on The Flu Wiki for a couple of hours (7pm-9pm EST). 

 

The following notice was posted last week by fellow flu blogger Cottontop.

 

Meet Peter Christian Hall November 9, 2011 On Flu Wiki 

by: cottontop

Mr. Hall will be a guest speaker here on Flu Wiki Forum Nov. 9, 2011, from 7-9pm EST. It is a Q & A for everyone. Mr. Hall is the author of American Fever: A tale of Pestilence and Romance, a pandemic novel due out very soon.

Save the date!

 

 

I’ve mentioned Peter and his online novel (see A Recurrent Fever) in this blog several times before.

 

Peter recently interviewed Crof, Scott McPherson, Cottontop, and myself for an article on flu bloggers, and our reaction to the movie Contagion, for The Huffington Post.

 

Contagion Grips 'Flublogia'

 

 

Wednesday night’s appearance should make for an entertaining and informative session, so mark your calendars.

A Couple Of Sunday Referrals

 

 

# 3975

 

 

While it pains me to admit it, there are other flu bloggers (besides myself, not instead of) you really should be reading. Truth is, we are blessed with having a number of very knowledgeable and talented bloggers, most of whom you’ll find on my sidebar.  

 

Which is why I try to point out the work they do from time to time. 

 

Besides, it gives me an easy post to write . . .

 

Since it’s Sunday, DemFromCt, who is a physician and one of the founding editors of the Flu Wiki, has his weekly roundup of flu news on The Daily Kos.     Always a good read.

 

 

H1N1: More Illness, A Bit More Vaccine, Bruised Intentions

by DemFromCT

Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 10:00:04 AM PST

 

 

And then there’s Peter Christian Hall, whose online pandemic novel  American Fever I’ve mention on several occasions (here and here).

 

In addition to being a novelist, Peter is also a blogger, who has been covering the Flu beat for The Huffington Post  (see Blog Entries by Peter Christian Hall).

 

His latest is an eclectic survey of Mercury in American life:

 

Thimerosol in Flu Vaccines? America's Mercury Habit is Nothing New

Posted November 6, 2009 | 02:01 PM (EST)

 

Both essays are well worth your time, and of course the stalwarts like Crofsblog and Effect Measure should be part of your daily tour of Flublogia as well.