Short Wave Do NYC Birds Hold The Clues To The Next Pandemic?
Sep 30, 2024
The discussion reveals how bird flu could signal the next pandemic, linking it to recent human cases. A team in New York City involves high school students from diverse backgrounds to track avian viruses, promoting equity in science. They focus on monitoring wild birds and community science, emphasizing the importance of education in public health. The podcast also tackles the challenges of informing the public about avian flu risks and the lessons learned from recent pandemic experiences.
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High School Grant Proposal
- Maisha Alam, a high schooler, wrote a grant proposal for avian coronavirus detection.
- This became a molecular study of avian influenza.
Virus Surveillance
- Maisha's work is part of a broader effort to understand virus movement in birds.
- Scientists believe COVID jumped from animals to humans, and similar events could occur.
Urban Surveillance
- Pandemic virus surveillance programs are rare, especially in urban areas.
- Christine Marisi aims to build an equitable program involving underrepresented students.