ADVISORY/Experts Available to Discuss Increase in Flu-related Deaths.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2003

TOPIC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of flu-related deaths has increased to approximately 36,000 people per year, which is up from 20,000 people per year in earlier estimates, according to an article by CNN.com. Experts say the increase is due to a stronger flu virus and an aging population. People age 65 and older are at risk of complications caused by the flu and the population of people who are age 85 and older has doubled over the past several decades. The CDC says getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent flu-related deaths. EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Gordon S. Raskin M.D. is a Board Certified Physician with more than fifteen years of experience bringing Preventive Medicine to the workplace. As CEO of On-Site Health, Inc., he has helped thousands of companies, including Cushman & Wakefield, CBS Television and others nationwide to keep their employees well, while benefitting the corporate bottom line. His areas of expertise include: flu shots and vaccinations, in general; drug testing; cardiovascular risk assessment; occupational safety and health; bioterror recognition. 510-757-9545, [e-mail]

Lee Harrison, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, is an associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and is the director of its Epidemiology Unit. He was trained in epidemiology and molecular epidemiology in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His research has focused on the epidemiology and molecular epidemiology of invasive encapsulated bacteria, including Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus', and Neisseria meningitidis. Dr. Harrison also has an active research program in Brazil on the epidemiology and vaccine prevention of HIV infection. He is the director of the Pitt NIH Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program. Dr. Harrison is also the Director of the Public Health Infectious Diseases Laboratory, a molecular sub-typing laboratory whose mission is to provide training in molecular epidemiology, to conduct research, and to provide support for the Director of Infection Control at UPMC. 412-624-3137

Professor Steve Dewhurst, of the University of Rochester Medical Center, URMC, Dept of Microbiology & Immunology, is an expert regarding health sciences, virology, immunology and vaccine. 585-275-3216

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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