| Tracking the Flu - Science Insider
Reported January 2010
WHAT IS A VIRUS? Unlike bacteria, viruses are not cells. They consist of DNA or RNA molecules, containing the virus's genes, surrounded by a protein coat. A virus can attach itself to cells and inject molecules into the cell, or the cell may absorb it. Once inside, the molecules cause the infected cell to make new viruses that can spread to other cells.
PANDEMIC PANIC: Planning to combat an influenza pandemic can be difficult. Identifying the strain of the disease, as well as determining its ability to spread and infect the population, is key to suppressing the pandemic. Also important is determining the effect of social distancing efforts, such as school closings and other guidelines that would decrease social interaction. Modeling different scenarios can allow scientists to understand the impact of a pandemic and take actions that may save lives.
The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.-USA, contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Dr. David S. Ebert
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
ebertd@purdue.edu
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Barry List
(443) 757-3560
http://www.informs.org
barry.list@informs.org
Lois Smith
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Santa Monica, CA 90406
(310) 394-1811
http://www.hfes.org
lois@hfes.org
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
IEEE
Pender McCarter
IEEE http://www.ieee.org
IEEE-USA http://www.ieeeusa.org
p.mccarter@ieee.org
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