–submitted by Rich Leffler
Thomas Friedrich, a UW Professor of Virology, spoke to us about the possibility that Bird Flu will spread to humans. It originated in wild birds, spread to dairy cattle, then to poultry (deadly), and there have been 70 cases in humans, all mild. No human-to-human transmission. Yet. Will it cause a pandemic? Various factors have been studied. Only four mutations are needed to allow it to spread to humans. It needs to be tracked by human health systems. Many have recently been defunded. One of Professor Friedrich’s funders has rescinded its grant. Crazy, no?
Attendees also got to hear Soprano Sachie Ueshima, who will sing Zerlina in the Madison Opera production of the great Mozart opera Don Giovanni on May 2 and 4, as she opened the program with a superb performance of an aria from the opera.
If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/qJyFMAJS_uQ.
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 