Health

Local Infectious Disease Expert Discusses History and Future of Flu

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Hank Crook / Producer

Published May 4, 2009 at 7:39 AM PDT

This story was published more than 14 years ago.

What are the key similarities and differences between the 2009 H1-N1 influenza strain and the Spanish flu that killed millions of people in 1918 and 1919? We speak to one of San Diego's leading infectious disease experts about the history and future of the influenza virus.

Maureen Cavanaugh: If the worldwide alarm about the swine flu tells us anything at all, it's that influenza can get us very nervous, very quickly. And, with good reason.

Tens of millions of people died worldwide in the influenza pandemic in 1918, and recent outbreaks of the avian flu virus have been up to 60 percent lethal.

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It's not yet time for world health authorities to relax about the 2009 H1-N1 influenza strain, but many flu experts, including my guest this morning, are saying this swine flu doesn't look like the devastating flu researchers have been fearing.

While medical researchers continue their studies on this influenza, the outbreak has sparked new interest in a potential breakthrough in flu virus treatment announced earlier this year.

Guest

Dr. Robert Liddington, director of the Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research.

Health

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Hank Crook

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Hank Crook was the producer for "KPBS Midday Edition" as well as Friday's "Roundtable on KPBS Midday Edition" and KPBS TV's "San Diego Week" until 2011. He produced shows about a wide variety of topics. Some of Hank’s favorite topics include: local politics, economics, the environment and anything sports-related. Hank graduated with a degree in journalism from San Diego State University, and has been a professional journalist in San Diego since 2003. As an SDSU student, Hank served as an intern for the KPBS Radio newsroom. Hank grew up in San Diego, and is an alumnus of Point Loma High School. When Hank is not at work, he likes to exercise, listen to music, hang out with friends and manage his fantasy sports teams.

See stories by Hank Crook