From the health of fowl to biosecurity; from controlling infectious disease in animals to communicating risk to humans; from how human medicine merges with veterinary medicine, and even with wildlife biology, Michigan State University has experts who can discuss up-to-date issues surrounding avian flu. MSU has ISDN and TV uplink capabilities.

Avian flu

Richard “Mick” Fulton, associate professor, avian diseases, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Board certified-specialist in poultry medicine. He can be reached at (517) 353-3701 or fulton@dcpah.msu.edu.

Symptoms: “With the Asian strain of avian flu, farmers can expect to see very few symptoms, maybe sneezing, coughing and/or explosive diarrhea. Most likely the birds will be okay today and 80 to 90 percent of the birds will be dead the next day.”

Is it just a matter of time before it reaches the Western Hemisphere? “If the Asian strain does not develop the ability to go from person to person, I expect our hemisphere to see it in one or two years through migratory waterfowl. If it does develop that ability, all bets are off. It will get here by airplanes like it did with SARS.”

Willie Reed, professor and chairperson, Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation; director, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. An expert on avian diseases, Reed is a board-certified specialist in poultry medicine. He can be reached at (517) 353-0635 or reedw@msu.edu.

"Avian influenza is not an uncommon disease in poultry. In the early 1980s, for example, a sub-type of avian influenza known as H5N2 was detected in Pennsylvania and more than 17 million birds had to be destroyed. There have been other introductions of avian flu in Texas, New Jersey and Maryland. Avian influenza has been a serious disease worldwide for a long time. The difference here is the virus is affecting humans. Recent research on the 1918 avian flu virus has shown that the virus acquired the genetic material that came from avian viruses. We have to watch for the molecular changes that could be the tipping point that allows it to acquire the ability to pass from human to human."

John Kaneene, professor, large animal clinical sciences; director, Population Medicine Center, which addresses population-based issues in animal health and public health management. An expert on avian and other animal diseases, he has conducted much of his research in Southeast Asia. He can be reached at (517) 355-2269 or kaneenej@msu.edu. (Kaneene is pronounced kuh-nee-nee.)

Emerging infectious disease and biosecurity

Daniel Grooms, associate professor, large animal clinical sciences. Expertise lies in biosecurity and the control and prevention of infectious disease in animals. He can discuss how avian flu affects birds, as well as the epidemiology of the disease. Heads MSU’s role in the Michigan Emergency Veterinary Network (“VetNet”), a training program for veterinarians aimed at improving awareness, preparedness and response to animal disease-related emergencies. He can be reached at (517) 432-1494 or groomsd@cvm.msu.edu.

Infectious disease

Dele Davies, professor and chairperson, pediatrics and human development. Areas of expertise include infectious diseases and emerging infections, antibiotic efficacy and viral mutation, as well as the epidemiology of infectious diseases. He can be reached at (517) 355-3308 or dele.davies@ht.msu.edu. (Dele is pronounced del-ee.)

Daniel Havlichek, associate professor of medicine; chief, Department of Medicine Infectious Disease Section. Areas of expertise include all aspects of infectious disease. A practicing physician who treats HIV and hepatitis patients. He can be reached at (517) 353-3747 or daniel.havlichek@ht.msu.edu.

Jean Tsao, a disease ecologist at MSU, notes that the rising emergence of infectious diseases that infect both wildlife and humans underscores the need for a better interface between wildlife experts and the medical community. “With many emerging infectious diseases originating from animals, no one approach is likely to be a cure-all,” says Tsao. “Diseases like this demand you think at the wildlife-community level, not just at the patient level.” She can be reached at (517) 353-1737 or tsao@msu.edu.

Medical history

Robert Root-Bernstein, professor, physiology and Lyman Briggs School of Science. A medical historian, Root-Bernstein notes that while the world is not truly prepared for such a pandemic, he wonders if one will come about at this time. “I’d put the risk of such a pandemic, especially involving flu, much lower than most people because I’m pretty sure that the 1918 flu was actually a combination of flu with a bacterial outbreak. And most bacterial infections are now treatable with antibiotics.” He can be reached at  (517) 355-6475, Ext. 1101, or rootbern@msu.edu.

Peter Vinten-Johansen, associate professor of history and medical historian, can discuss the possible historical parallels between current concerns in public health with the modern history of the medical world. Vinten-Johansen is co-author of a biography of John Snow, the 19^th-century British physician considered to be the father of modern epidemiology. He can be reached at (902) 254-2327 or vintenjo@mail.msu.edu.

Christine Daniels, associate professor of history who has taught and studied pandemics throughout history, including the Black Death in England and the smallpox pandemic of the 18^th century. She says, “We have long ignored or downplayed the historical effects of disease on all aspects of society, from the economy to politics and beyond. I believe this is because medical advances during the 20^th century provided us with a false sense of security regarding the ‘conquest’ of epidemic diseases.” She can be reached at danielsc@msu.edu.

Risk communication

Charles Salmon is dean of MSU’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences and Ellis N. Brandt Professor of Public Relations. Prior to joining the faculty at MSU, Salmon served as associate professor and co-director of the Center for Health and Risk Communication in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He can discuss issues related to communications during a health crisis. He can be reached at (517) 355-3410 or salmon@msu.edu.

Animal law

David Favre, a professor of law at Michigan State University College of Law, is a national officer of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and of the ABA Committee on Animal Law. He has written several articles and books dealing with animal issues including such topics as animal cruelty, wildlife law, the use of animals for scientific research, and international control of animal trade. His books include "Animal Law and Dog Behavior," "Animal Law: Welfare, Interest, and Rights," and "International Trade in Endangered Species." He also runs the Animal Legal and Historical Web Center. He can be reached at (517) 432-6890 or favre@law.msu.edu.

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