A new A/H1N1 influenza (flu) strain was identified in Mexico City on April, 2009.  Within weeks, 590 confirmed cases with 26 deaths had been reported in Mexico; 140 cases in Canada; 403 in 38 states across the USA; and about 1500 cases in 25 nations in Europe, Canada, New Zealand and Asia.  The preliminary reports suggest that 2009 A/H1N1 outbreak bore similarities to the 1918 HIN1 flu outbreak and the WHO pandemic alert classification quickly rose from level 3 to 5.  In this workshop, we will review the course of the epidemic, the interventions used to slow its spread, and the preparations for the future. 

This workshop will focus on:
  • How can we apply what have we learned from previous epidemics to help slow the spread of this virus?
  • How useful has past knowledge been in dealing with current outbreaks?
  • What is our current state of preparedness?
  • Do we have enough vaccines and antiviral drugs to treat every person that needs it in the USA? What about other countries?

Internal Sponsors

• The Decision Theater
• The Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center
• The School of Human Evolution and Social Change
• The School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences
• The School of Life Sciences
• The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs
• The Offices of the Provost and President
• The Southwest Consortium for Theoretical and Mathematical Biology

External Co-sponsors

• Center for Bio-Security Science at LANL
• Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)
• Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI)
• The Mathematics for Information Technology and Complex Systems
• Centre for Disease Modeling and Public Health Agency of Canada