Webinar
Registration ends in 2 weeks
Presented by
John A. Molinari
Ph.D.
View Bio
Course Description
Basic Science, Health and Safety
Public health issues should be important considerations for dental professionals. Recent ongoing developments involve a number of respiratory viruses. Influenza viruses, for example, are among the most common microorganisms responsible for emerging and reemerging diseases. The most dramatic example was the emergence of a novel influenza virus responsible for the global 1918-1919 Spanish Influenza pandemic, which killed between 30-50 million people. In addition to describing viral features and transmission between multiple animal species, investigation of influenza viruses since 1933 has led to the realization that these RNA viruses have been responsible for periodic major and minor epidemics for hundreds of years. One of the most remarkable discoveries about influenza viruses was the frequency in which mutations can occur. Alteration of the viral antigen structure can lead to infection with variants for which little or no resistance is present in populations at risk.
Avian influenza constitutes the most recent serious threat. The CDC defines avian influenza, or bird flu, as a contagious viral infection caused by avian influenza type A viruses. It was initially documented to spread between birds, but the current strain has also been able to infect multiple species, including humans. The most serious form of this viral infection is termed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and was first recognized as a fatal human illness in 1997. This seminar will discuss the status and ongoing global threat of this disease, with emphasis on transmission of bird flu to humans primarily from contact with wild birds, commercial poultry, and dairy herds. The potential for human-to-human viral transmission will be included. Updated infection prevention recommendations aimed at minimizing exposure for those people at high risk, healthcare treatment of asymptomatic individuals, and use of available antiviral treatments will be discussed. Unfortunately, recent limitations imposed on scientific investigation of bird flu caused by restrictions placed on federal public health agencies and research laboratories must be considered as impediments to addressing societal challenges of this respiratory disease.
“The educational teaching methodology used in this course is live, interactive lecture presented via Zoom webinar with an accompanying PowerPoint presentation. Both the live webinar and the PowerPoint presentation incorporate a variety of audio and visual cues to enhance audience members’ understanding and retention of key concepts. In addition, question and answer periods are provided for at the conclusion of each section of the live webinar.”
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course the participants should be able to:
- Understand characteristics of influenza viruses and their ability to cause respiratory disease
- Comprehend the capability of Type A influenza viruses to cause serious infections
- Discuss the potential of avian Type A influenza viruses to infect different animal species, including humans, via respiratory droplets
- Track and understand the global progression of disease and mortality caused by the current strain of avian influenza virus
- Discuss the current state of known U.S. infections in wild birds, commercial poultry, dairy herds, and mammalian species, including humans
- Comprehend infection prevention recommendations for people at high risk of acquiring bird flu
- Understand respiratory infection control precautions for healthcare professionals who may unknowingly provide care to asymptomatic infected patients
