Answers for each of the questions from each of the teams can be found at the associated linked page. Comments from experts in the field will be placed here as well. It is imperative that teams email me their answers on or before the due dates so that they can be posted in an expedient manner. It is a good idea to look at other team's answers once they are posted as they may provide you with insight for the next part. Remember that solving a problem and not sharing it with the world is no solution at all.

History of the Flu and Pandemics

What strains were responsible for major pandemics of the 20th century? How did they figure them out? Why did they die back? Where are they now?
What was the key to the deadliness of the strain of 1918?
What has been performed in order to study viruses from pandemics of the past?

Origins of the Flu

Why do so many flu outbreaks begin in Asia?

Number of Deaths by Viruses

How many deaths have there been from this particular bird flu virus? How many from the 1918 pandemic? How many from AIDS?

Compare/Contrast to Other Diseases

Compare and contrast the spread of the avian flu with the spread of AIDS.

Epidemiology

Why is species jumping a rare occurrence?
How do viruses spread around the world?
What is meant by the term reservoir?
What are they for flu?

Host range

What is meant by host range and what determines it?

Molecular Biology of the Flu

There are two types of change: shift and drift. What are they? How do they differ?
Why does shift occur in flu?
What is the property in its genome that allows this to occur?
Why should we worry about all strains of flu? (Recombination/reassortment)
What are all genes in its genome?
What are their functions?

Structure/function of the flu

What are the H and N in the flu? What are their functions for the virus?
Most recent threat is H5N1. What does this name imply?


Sequence of Genomes

Is it possible for you to find unique nucleic acid sequences for the different H and N variants using information available at a public database?
How is influenza different from many other viruses with respect to the composition of the genome?

Identification of Strains

How would you identify which strain of influenza is responsible for a particular outbreak?? What is used as markers?

Signs/Symptoms of Disease

What does one see as the signs and symptoms of the disease in an individual?
What is the usual progression of the disease?
How does a virus affect/infect our cells?

Immunology/Serology of the Flu

How could you check to see if a person had contracted a particular strain of the flu at some point in their life?

Pathogenicity/Transmissibility

Pathogenicity is influenced by genetic composition. Scientists have recognized that deadly strains of viruses all have mutations in a particular gene that affect its ability to replicate. What gene or what mutation?
Transmissibility is also crucial for a pandemic to occur. What affects transmissibility of this virus?

Isolation/Culture of Virus

How is the virus isolated or cultured in a lab?
Why is it more challenging to culture this particular strain termed bird flu?

Treatment/therapy

What is the mechanism of action of tamiflu?
What other treatments are available?
Why was there a shortage of flu vaccine in 2004/2005?
Why can't we just stockpile it for future years?
Why can't we make a universal vaccine?

Preparation plan for the area

It is your job to coordinate the day-to-day management of this crisis. What measures would you take to slow its spread?
What changes would you propose for the general public?
How would you prevent panic and mass hysteria?
Write a news bulletin detailing virus features and list of steps people should take.

Health Facilities Capabilities

How would you monitor the disease and the numbers in the population? How would you assess the efficiency of your control efforts?
What is a sentinel organism and how could it be used in this situation?

Logistics

What should remain operational? Schools/churches/stores/garbage pick up?
What would be the punishment for disobeying the rules?
Who would be responsible for keeping general supply lines open?
What would you do with regard to quarantine? What would it take to institute it?
What would you do if things truned ugly and there were large numbers of deaths? How would you manage this?
If there were a limited supply of vaccine or drugs to control the disease who should receive them?

US Government

What is being done by the US Government at the present time as far as readiness plan is concerned? Who is responsible for its conception and then the day-to-day operation?

Worldwide Commitment

What is being done at a global effort to stop the spread of the disease and avert a possible pandemic spread?

When Would You Call the Pandemic Over?

What would be necessary for you to call the local epidemic over?
How about for the pandemic?