Avian Influenza --- The Long Journey from Birds to Cattle to Humans
Guest Speaker: Nancy Connell
Summary
This talk will describe the long history of the Avian Influenza Strain known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or Influenza A subtype H5N1. This strain was first identified in Scotland in farmed birds in 1959. It was next detected in China, in 1996, when who carry the infection with little sickness. But the strain has been occasionally infecting humans by direct contact ever since. These sporadic “spillover” events, although rare, have worried researchers because of their high lethality in humans. But in the last few years, avian flu has spread across the world via wild birds and has adapted to other animals, including widespread infections of cattle in the United States. Mild cases have been identified in farm workers and, most worryingly, there have been some severe cases in people with no know contact with infected cows of birds. Human-to human transmission has not yet been detected but many public health officials believe this is a likely scenario. The lecture will discuss how these spillover events take place, how this flu differs from the seasonal flu that comes around every year, what countermeasures are available or under development, and how we can prepare for a next pandemic.
Portfolio of Nancy Connell
Dr. Nancy Connell is a Senior Scholar at the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in the International Networks and Collaborations section of the Division of Policy and Governmental Affairs. Trained in microbial genetics at Harvard. From 1992-2018, Dr. Connell was an investigator in microbial genetics and drug discovery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), finishing her long career there as Professor in the Division of Infectious Disease and Director of Research in the Department of Medicine. She was then a Senior Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and a Professor in the Department of Environmental Health. Dr. Connell now focuses on advances in life sciences and technology and their application to developments in biosecurity, biosafety, and biodefense. She has had a long-standing interest in regulatory policies associated with biocontainment work and dual-use research of concern. and she currently serves as advisor to the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, putting her policy interests to work.
*There will also be a special presentation by the Education Committee
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Please note that this will be a HYBRID meeting both ONLINE (Zoom) and IN PERSON (¥1,000 at the door) at the Roppongi Hills Community Room.
Currently, in-person tickets are only available for members and their invited guests (non-members who have been invited by a member). In-person tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend securing your spot as soon as possible!
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RSVP by April 4th (In Person) or April 7th (Zoom) 2025
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General Meeting Team
Director: Shigeko Nagaoka
Program Coordinator: Ko Iwata
Meeting Manager: Joan Rodgers Doi and Rina Jiang
Zoom and WA Support: Rina Jiang and Rumi Nagashima
