PSC on TV: PSC Scientist Demonstrates Model of H1N1 Outbreak in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, PA., October 8, 2009 – WTAE-TV journalist Michelle Wright interviewed PSC scientist Shawn Brown about his modeling of the spread of the H1N1 virus in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh and surrounding communities in the metropolitian area, and Brown demonstrated the model on camera for viewers. The segment, part of WTAE’s weeklong special coverage of H1N1, aired on WTAE’s evening news.
Brown’s work is part of the National Institutes of Health’s Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study (MIDAS) project, which supports research to simulate disease spread, evaluate different intervention strategies and help inform public health officials and policymakers. Brown collaborates with the Pittsburgh MIDAS Center of Excellence, led by Donald Burke, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. This group is studying fundamental questions about the behavioral, environmental and evolutionary factors underlying infectious disease epidemics to develop real-time models for particular localities, cities and states.
The colors from blue to red represent the number of influenza cases per square mile.
| Blue | 1 |
| Purple | 5 |
| Reddish-purple | 10 |
| Dark red | 20 |
| Red | 100 |
| Bright red | >500 |
Each time step represents one day. The entire simulation covers 148 days.