September 11, 2024 Library of Congress to Hold Webinar on Forecasting the Potential Arrivals of the Next Respiratory Diseases This Winter

The Library of Congress Health Service Division and Science, Technology and Business Division will host a webinar on Thursday, Sept. 19, where leading figures in epidemiology and disease forecasting will offer their predictions and strategies for managing respiratory diseases this winter. This event will provide healthcare professionals, public health officials, and the general public strategies to prepare for potential respiratory disease outbreaks.

What:    Webinar: Forecasting Respiratory Diseases for This Winter

When:   Thursday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET. 

Where:  Livestream webinar on zoom.gov

Confirmed panelists:

• Benjamin Cowling, co-director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control at Hong Kong University School of Public Health. His latest research has focused on the modes of respiratory virus transmission, influenza vaccination effectiveness and immunity to infections at the individual and population levels.

• Dylan George, director of the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The forecasting center is building world class data and analytics capabilities to guide interventions in public health emergencies and pandemics.

RSVP:  Please register here. For media interview requests, contact Maria Peña, mpena@loc.gov, and you can also send your questions for the webinar here. For non-media questions, contact Jennifer Harbster in the Science Section at jeha@loc.gov.  
During the winter of 2023,  the nation faced the triple threat of COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which significantly impacted public health, particularly among people over 60.  A large portion of those infected are still dealing with long-term effects of these illnesses, including long COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That agency warns that COVID-19 activity remains elevated nationally although there are continued signs of decline in many areas, while the number of emergency room visits related to the flu and RSV are increasing.

The expert-led webinar will help public health officials and the general public gain insights into the expected trends for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV this winter, learn ways to mitigate the risks associated with these respiratory diseases and gain a better understanding of their long-term effects and ongoing impacts.

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