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Study: Immunize refugee children early to prevent deadly measles – Children of refugees should be immunized against deadly measles outbreaks within two weeks after they enter a new country, according to a report in the current issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The report was co-authored by Darryl Koop, medical resident and former graduate student in public health at Ohio State University, who cared for refugees of the Kosovo war in 1999. According to the World Health Organization, one million children die from measles each year. The virus infects the respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body, and is transmitted by airborne droplets breathed or coughed by a contagious person. Measles remains one of the leading causes of childhood mortality in refugee situations, Koop said, and the children of Afghanistan could be especially at risk.
“Years of internal conflict have disrupted the Afghan public health infrastructure that is responsible for immunizing children,” he said. “That, coupled with the existence of childhood malnutrition in the country will put many Afghan children at risk of contracting -- or even dying from -- various diseases, including measles.” Koop expects to see vaccinations become a top priority in refugee camps. Contact: Darryl Koop, (614) 833-6492. See: http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/refugee.htm
OSU physicians will teach nationally distributed course on bioterrorism – Nov. 6-9. OMEN, the Ohio Medical Education Network, will present a 90-minute program and panel discussion on “Managing the Diseases of Bioterrorism: A Physician’s Guide,” from Nov. 6-9. OMEN programs are offered weekly via an audio network or teleconference to thousands of physicians and other health care professionals across the country. The program Nov. 6-8 will be an audio format and will run from noon-1:30 p.m. It will go to physicians at 70 hospitals in the Midwest. The program will be moderated by Dr. Mark King, a physician in the OSU department of radiology. The program on Nov. 9 will be a teleconference to 1,500 sites. It will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and be moderated by Dr. Jim Allen from the OSU department of pulmonary and critical care medicine. Among the panelists: Dr. Richard Nelson, professor and vice chair of emergency medicine at OSU; Dr. Julie Mangino, medical director of epidemiologist at OSU, and Dr. Forest Smith, an epidemiologist for the Ohio Department of Health. The program is produced by the Center for Continuing Medical Education in the Media Center at Ohio State. It will air on Educable on Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. Contact: Michelle Gailiun, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737.
Diversity Lecture Series focuses on American Indian Movement – Nov. 6. WaBun-Inini (Vernon Bellecourt), founder, activist and spokesperson for the Denver chapter of the American Indian Movement, will present “American Indian Movement: 1492 to Present,” at 9 a.m. Tuesday (11/6) in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre, 1739 N. High Street. The lecture series, a component of Ohio State’s Diversity Action Plan, is sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of Academic Affairs. Contact: Frank W. Hale Jr. (614) 688-4255.
The re-turn of the screw – Nov. 6. Thomas Cooley, professor of English, will present “Re-Turn of the Screwball: Nerves and Narratives in Late-Victorian America,” at the College of Humanities first Inaugural Lecture of the year, at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday (11/6) at the Faculty Club. Cooley will offer a new view of the nanny in Henry James’s 1898 novella, The Turn of the Screw. Contact: Shari Lorbach, College of Humanities, 292-1882.
ROTC Cadets honor veterans and fallen OSU soldiers – Nov. 8. ROTC cadets will conduct the annual Rock Ceremony at the Memorial Rock in front of Bricker Hall at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 8. The ceremony recognizes the more than 900 alumni of Ohio State who died in service to the country as members of the armed forces. The tradition of honoring these veterans dates to 1919 when Taps was played once per week in memory of students who had lost their lives. That tradition has evolved into the Rock Ceremony, conducted by Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC units on campus. In addition, ROTC cadets will show their continuous support for veterans with a continuous run around the Oval. The run begins at dawn on Thursday (11/8) and will last at least 12 hours. Cadets will run in shifts that rotate through the three service units and each runner will carry both the POW/MIA and American flags. The goal of the run is to show support, honor and recognition of veterans for their contributions and sacrifices. Contact: Col. Gumbert, Army ROTC, (614) 292-6075; or Cpt. Uyak, Navy ROTC, (614) 292-6015.
Wetlands and Army Engineers – Nov. 9. Major General Hans Van Winkle, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will deliver “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wetland Protection and Restoration,” at 1 p.m. on Friday (11/9) in 103 Kottman Hall. General Van Winkle will look at wetland mitigation policy and also provide a summary of the Corps’ efforts to restore the Florida Everglades. The talk is sponsored by the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP), the School of Natural Resources and the Office of Research. Contact: William Mitsch, ORWRP, (614) 247-7984
Alliance hosts peace and justice workshop – Nov. 9-11. People and organizations involved in peace and justice work have an opportunity to meet face-to-face to discuss critical issues, share strategies and build alliances for future actions this weekend at “Building Alliances for Progressive Action,” a conference sponsored by the Campus Progressive Alliance at Ohio State. Keynote speakers will deliver lectures in Independence Hall. All workshops will be held in the Ohio Union. Keynote speakers include Winina Laduke, “Environmental Justice from a Native Perspective,” at 8 p.m. on Friday (11/9); Amy Goodman, “Democracy Now! From East Timor to the U.S.,” at 9:30 a.m. Saturday (11/10); Michael Parenti, “Democracy or Globalization? Progressives vs. Plutocrats,” at 7 p.m. Saturday (11/10), and Tim Wise, “Beyond Diversity: Challenging Racism in the Age of Backlash,” 10 a.m. Sunday (11/11). Contact: Chris Shumway, Campus Progressive Alliance, (614) 898-6100.
The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Lesley Jenkins, (614) 292-0569, Randy Dunham, (614) 292-8295; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.