Talk of the Town

Sars, West Nile And Monkey Pox

Mon. Dec. 8th, 7:30-9:00 pm

With: Dr. Robert Brunham, Director Of The BC Centre for Disease Control, Dr. David Patrick, Director Of Epidemiology BCCDC, Monika Naus, Associate Director Epidemiology BCCDC

Animal viruses have been finding their way into humans for thousands of years. When humans began to domesticate wild animals and give up hunting and gathering for life in agricultural communities, the conditions were set for viruses to make a species jump. Many of the diseases we now think of as human afflictions originally came from animals: measles and tuberculosis from cattle, influenza from pigs and smallpox may have come from camels. In the last three decades we have seen some dramatic examples: Ebola, Monkey Pox, West Nile and SARS. Recent research has indicated that of the 30 emerging infectious diseases in humans, three quarters come from animals. In this panel discussion we will look at the history and science of animal viruses making their way to humans. We’ll explore whether it is happening more frequently and look at how modern medical technology is providing new tools to fight these diseases. And we will address the critical questions arising out of last year’s outbreak of SARS: how realistic are fears of another pandemic like the flu that killed almost 40 million people, is our public health system prepared to deal with a serious pandemic and what do we need to do to become prepared?

The discussion will take place at UBC’s Robson Square campus. Attendance is free of charge, but please pre-register at info.talkofthetown@ubc.ca or phone 604-822-1700.

The SARS File

• The SARS outbreak resulted in 8,098 cases and 774 deaths (44 in Canada) and is estimated to have had economic costs of $500 BILLION worldwide.
• SARS is a respiratory infection with an overall death rate of 11 per cent, but a death rate 50 per cent or higher among people 60 and older.
• Canada is likely to be hit by another SARS outbreak perhaps as early as next year, according to one of Canada's leading infectious disease experts.
• A reliable, safe vaccine for SARS won't be ready for at least two years, and perhaps longer than that.

Links & Readings

Links

How animal viruses have had a role in shaping human history

Text of a talk by Jared Diamond, author of the best-selling Guns, Germs and Steel: The fates of human societies.

BC Centre for Disease Control

This site has the latest information for British Columbia on both West Nile and SARS.

Health Canada SARS site

Here you’ll find the latest information on SARS from the government of Canada, for the general public and health practitioners.

Health Canada West Nile site

Health Canada’s site contains background information, health tips and surveillance maps of the virus.

Monkey Pox

The US Center for Disease Control has information on Monkey Pox, a disease that has infected 79 Americans through contact with pet prairie dogs.