Clemson University Swine Flu Sources and Tips

May 5, 2009

CLEMSON, SC – May 1, 2009 – Clemson University is monitoring the outbreak of swine flu. For the latest announcements go to http://www.clemson.edu/newsroom/special_reports/flu/.

Swine flu is not an animal disease outbreak. It’s safe to eat pork cooked properly. Swine production operations currently do not pose a flu threat to public health. For more information, contact Clemson University veterinarian Michael K. Martin, DVM, 803-788-2260, ext. 230, or [email protected] or Peter Kent at 864-656-4355 or [email protected]. You also can see the Clemson Livestock Poultry influenza A Web site at www.clemson.edulph/ahp/influenzaa.html.

There are 219 swine flu groups on Facebook. Most are small, but one has more than 1,800 members, according to Clemson sociologist Jim Witte. The speed of the spread of information in this Internet age is a concern, but we must keep in mind that we still have the same dilemma as is always the case with rumor and gossip: how to separate out fact and fiction. Witte said we may know the swine flu is a real crisis when the communication overwhelms the Internet as it did on Sept. 11, 2001. For information contact Witte (864-656-3816, [email protected]) or News Services’ Teresa Hopkins (864-656-1222, [email protected]).

Clemson economist Scott Baier knows the national and world economies are fragile, but he doesn’t anticipate the swine flu outbreak having a major negative economic impact. Baier, along with John Alexander, Breazeale Professor of Investments at Clemson, sees certain stocks reacting to an outbreak of swine flu, but those ticks mostly will be seen in commodities and transportation. For additional information contact Baier (864-656-4534, [email protected]) or Alexander (864-656-0547, [email protected]) or News Services’ Teresa Hopkins (864-656-1222, [email protected]).

The current swine flu outbreak illustrates the risk to human health posed by viruses, according to Hugh Spitler, associate professor of public health science.   Viruses are genetically labile or, in other words, able to trade information with other strains of viruses.  This often results in a mutation or new virus to which humans have little or no resistance. The classic 1918 world flu pandemic also was a swine flu, originating in pigs and making the crossover to humans.  Spitler, whose research interests include social and behavioral epidemiology, can be reached at 864-656-7434 or [email protected]. Contact Ross Norton (864-656-4810, [email protected]) in News Services for assistance.

One of the difficulties of dealing with a pandemic outbreak is accurately forecasting the size, spread, duration, severity and location of origin for the event. Delays in identifying the illness can be critical in attempting to control it. Clemson University assistant professor of industrial engineering Sandra Garrett and colleagues from Purdue are working to establish plans that can be in place before an event is identified so that policy-makers and government officials can detect a pandemic at an earlier stage, thus limiting the impact. They’ve also worked with health officials and hospitals in the test state of Indiana to determine an “Alternative Care System” that may need to be activated once a pandemic reaches the local area. For more, contact Garrett (864-656-3114) or [email protected] or Susan Polowczuk in News Services (864-656-2063) or [email protected].

Try to put the dangers in perspective and stay educated and informed. These are some tips for handling the fear and anxiety over the swine flu, according to Clemson psychology professor Cindy Pury. She said we need to ask ourselves “What are the actual chances getting the flu?” “What are the chances of becoming dangerously ill?” Understanding the actual risk and knowing ways to protect ourselves is key in easing the stress. For information contact Pury (656-7876 or [email protected]) or News Services’ Teresa Hopkins (656-1222 or [email protected]).