Environmental Presentation

WVU Parkersburg ecological series to feature presentation on "Pandemics: Are We Ready?

CONTACT: Denise McClung, associate professor of psychology, (304) 424-8230.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg ecological psychology students will address the topic of Pandemics on Thursday (July 20) in the third in a series of environmental panel discussions being held in July.

The free session will be held at 7 p.m. in the Caperton Center auditorium at WVU Parkersburg. Open to the public, the pandemics' discussion will be presented by a student panel and an expert consultant.

The panel consists of Judy Paquette, Harold Jumper, Jim Malm and Joanne Tucker who will present their research findings along with expert consultant, Tim Wickam, regional epidemiologist with the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department.

During the session, the panel will consider what is likely to be the next major pandemic to strike the world: pandemic influenza. The presentation will cover several areas of pandemics. The differences between the various types of influenza will also be discussed, including differentiating between bird flu, avian flu, seasonal flu, and pandemic flu. A brief history of previous pandemics will highlight three major pandemics of the last century. The current state of pandemics in the world, nation, state, and local area will be featured.

Also covered will be general precautions and guidelines for individuals in the event of a pandemic, as well as programs in place regarding community planning for the Mid-Ohio Valley. Following the presentation, the panel will host a question and answer session.

The WVU Parkersburg students have conducted research as part of a course entitled Ecological Psychology which is being co-taught this summer by Phil McClung, professor of psychology, and Denise McClung, associate professor of psychology.

The final presentation of the series will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 27, and will address "Resource Management."

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
Office: 304-424-8203
Fax: 304-424-8315