What to do about the flu

September 1st, 2009

The flu season has come earlier and harder this year with the threat of H1N1 no longer just a threat in many areas, but a reality that’s closing schools.  Some schools have experienced high percentages of teachers and students being forced to stay home with the flu or because others in their family are sick and they don’t want to spread potential germs. University of Maine Professor Carol Kim offers some insight on how viruses spread and how vaccines work.

The story:

The flu season is upon us and this year includes threats of H1N1, commonly known as Swine flu. Although people are being encouraged to get the H1N1 vaccine in addition to their regular flu vaccine, the preventative measure is hard to come by in many places and some, in particular parents, are wondering what will happen if they can’t get the vaccine.

The hook:

University of Maine Professor Carol Kim of the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology conducts disease studies with zebrafish, and hopes to better understand the numerous immune factors that augment, extend, and prolong the immune response to infection.

Kim is available to discuss any of the following topics:

How do vaccines work?

How do viruses spread from animals to humans?

Why do we need to get flu shots and/or vaccines?

How and why do vaccine formulas keep changing?

More information about her research is available at www.umaine.edu/bmmb/faculty/index.php/profile/carol_kim

Contact information:

Professor Carol Kim can be reached at (207) 581-2803. For assistance in reaching Kim, please call Aimee Dolloff at (207) 581-3777.