UIW Panel Discussion Answers Ebola Questions

May 22, 2014

San Antonio – On Wednesday, Oct. 22 nearly 200 members of the UIW and San Antonio communities gathered at the University of the Incarnate Word to have a conversation with local health professionals addressing questions and concerns related to the current Ebola outbreak. Ebola: “A Community Conversation…” was presented by the UIW Office of the Provost and Department of Biology.

Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. Ebola viruses are found in several African countries. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically in Africa. The natural reservoir host of Ebola virus remains unknown. For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html.

“The role of a university is to search for truth — our biology faculty wanted to help students separate fact from fiction — and help reduce the anxiety that so many are experiencing regarding the Ebola virus.  I believe this conversation helped dispel some of the myths and created a clearer understanding of this issue for participants,” said UIW Provost Dr. Kathi Light.

Panelists for the discussion were:

  • Dr. Jose Cadena, M.D., Assistant Professor, Medicine/Infectious Diseases, UTHSCSA, Assistant Chief of Infectious Diseases, Medical Director Infection Control South Texas Veterans Healthcare System
  • Dr. Ricardo Carrion, Jr., Ph.D., Associate Scientist and BSL-4 Laboratory Scientific Manager, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Virology and Immunology.
  • Dr. Anil T. Mangla, M.S., Ph.D., MPH, FRIPH, Assistant Director of Health, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
  • Dr. John R. Graybill, M.D., Professor Emeritus, Board Certified Infectious Disease Specialist, Medicine/ Infectious Disease UTHSCSA
  • Jose F. Martinez, Jr., PDSO, RO-UIW, Director, International Student & Scholar Services University of the Incarnate Word and
  • Cherise Rohr-Allegrini, Ph.D., MPH-UIW, Public Health Specialist, Epidemiology Consultant Adjunct Instructor of Biology.

 

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CONTACT:    Margaret Garcia, associate director public relations, (210) 422-4052, mlgarci2@uiwtx.edu