WASHINGTON, DC (June 11, 2015)—Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, has now triggered an outbreak in South Korea. To date, the virus that causes this illness has killed at least ten people, sickened dozens more and has prompted a massive quarantine order. The new reports of the illness in South Korea have raised fears about the spread of this deadly virus to other places around the world, including the United States. Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University has experts available to comment on various aspects related to MERS.
To schedule an interview with the following experts, please contact Kathy Fackelmann, the director of media relations at the Milken Institute SPH at [email protected] or 202-994-8354.
Lone Simonsen, PhD, research professor in the Department of Global Health at Milken Institute SPH, can talk about the epidemiology of MERS, the biology and transmission of the virus and the risk that it will spread. Dr. Simonsen was actively involved in the investigation of the 2002-2003 outbreak of a similar virus, which caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS.
Julie E. Fischer, PhD, associate research professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Milken Institute SPH, can provide expertise on the spread of MERS; the nature and biology of the virus; the process by which the World Health Organization determines whether the illness constitutes a public health emergency; and the ability to detect the spread of MERS and other emerging infections.
Amira Roess, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Global Health at Milken Institute SPH, can talk about the epidemiology, biology and transmission of MERS. Dr. Roess was an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she was involved in the investigation of several outbreaks, including avian influenza (H1N1). Dr. Roess is currently conducting research on H5N1, H1N1, MERS and other emerging zoonotic diseases in the Middle East and North Africa.
About Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University:
Established in July 1997 as the School of Public Health and Health Services, Milken Institute School of Public Health is the only school of public health in the nation’s capital. Today, more than 1,700 students from almost every U.S. state and 39 countries pursue undergraduate, graduate and doctoral-level degrees in public health. The school also offers an online Master of Public Health, MPH@GW, and an online Executive Master of Health Administration, MHA@GW, which allow students to pursue their degree from anywhere in the world.