Scott Gordon

Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

No two flu seasons are alike — from one year to the next, different types of the influenza virus dominate. Every year, virologists, health officials and healthcare providers marshall their resources to prevent and treat infections. When a flu season is particularly tough, as was the case in 2017-18, the illness tests limitations and vulnerabilities in the public health system. Wisconsin plays a crucial role in a nationwide network of influenza surveillance, which is also on guard for the emergence of a global flu pandemic. Meeting future challenges of influenza hinges on relationships that connect scientists and healthcare providers at local, state, federal and international levels.
 
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

Flu's Seasonal Curve Swelled In 2017-18

Scott Gordon
WisContext
No one questions that the 2017-2018 flu season was tough, but how unusual was it really?
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

As Some Hospitals Lift Flu-Related Visitor Restrictions, DHS Warns Of Second Wave Of Flu

Audio: 
Ximena Conde
Wisconsin Public Radio
Visitor restrictions are being lifted in some hospitals as there are fewer reported cases of the flu but health officials warn the flu season is not over.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health
Series: Wisconsin Historical Society Press Excerpts

When The 1918 Influenza Pandemic Struck Wisconsin

Richard L. Pifer
Marjorie Hannon Pifer
In 1918, the Spanish flu attacked young, otherwise healthy adults, killed quickly and often, and leapt from Europe to Wisconsin with unimaginable speed. Its cause was unknown; its mode of transmission was unknown; how to stop it was unknown.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

Tracking The Flu In Wisconsin

Audio: 
Rob Ferrett
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin is in the midst the worst flu season in years, and public health officials are working to stop the spread of the disease. Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene communicable disease division director Peter Shult discusses efforts to track the virus.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

Wisconsin Hospitals Adjust To Unusual Length Of IV Bag Deficit

Scott Gordon
WisContext
Healthcare providers across the United States are longing to get back to a steady drip.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

Wisconsin's Role As A Hub In U.S. Flu Surveillance

Scott Gordon
WisContext
As Wisconsinites push through a hard flu season, public-health officials are following a distinct mix of influenza strains and worrying about the effectiveness of this year's vaccines, but they're also thinking a lot about an intricate disease-tracking network that's been built up over time.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

As Flu Remains A Threat, Some Hospitals Enforce Stricter Visitation Rules

Audio: 
Ximena Conde
Wisconsin Public Radio
The severity of the flu season has prompted hospital systems like UW Health to have stricter enforcement of its visitor rules.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

A Demanding Flu Season Tightens Squeeze On IV Bag Supplies

Scott Gordon
WisContext
A spike in flu cases comes as healthcare providers continue to deal with a shortage of one of their most common and crucial tools: pre-filled IV bags.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

US In Grips Of Worst Flu Outbreak In Years

Audio: 
Patty Murray
Wisconsin Public Radio
During its weekly flu update conference call, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this season's flu outbreak came early and shows few signs of abating.
Series: The Flu And Wisconsin's Public Health

Struggling Through A 21st Century Flu Season With 1940s Science

Hayley Sperling
WisContext
The 2017-18 influenza season is well underway across the United States, and it's proving to be a rough one.