Can a Movie Convince People to Fight the Flu?
Infection Control Today
September 2011
Imagine this: A dangerous virus, with origins in the Southern Hemisphere, is about to begin infecting millions of Americans and could end up killing tens of thousands. At the same time, federal, state and local health officials are marshalling resources to defend against an outbreak that has the potential to overwhelm the country’s healthcare system.
Though it may seem eerily similar to the plot of the feature film ‘Contagion,’ this scenario is not a work of fiction. The virus in question is seasonal influenza and, since last winter, public health officials have studied outbreaks in Australia and other areas south of the equator to develop this year’s flu vaccine.
