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Duke to Hold Weeklong Series of Events on Ebola Epidemic

The events, from Sept. 22-26, include conversations, lectures, a live videoconference from Nigeria and a film screening.

Duke University will hold a weeklong series of public events on the continuing Ebola epidemic in West Africa Sept. 22-26.

The events include conversations, lectures, a live videoconference from Nigeria and a film screening, and are sponsored by the Africa Initiative, Duke University Center for International Studies (DUCIS), Duke Global Health Institute, and Program in the Arts of the Moving Image. 

All of these events are free and open to the entire Duke community and the public. 

A schedule of events includes:

-- “Ebola: The Outbreak and the Response,” Monday, Sept. 22, 5 p.m., 217 Perkins Library

Drs. Chris Woods and Michael Merson of the Duke Global Health Institute will discuss the overall situation in West Africa, how the Ebola outbreak started, details about the disease, and the response from the global community. 

-- “Can Sirleaf Survive Ebola?” Tuesday, Sept. 23, 5 p.m., Mary Lou Williams Center, Flowers Building

Mary H. Moran, professor of anthropology and Africana & Latin American Studies at Colgate University, will speak about the cultural context of the West African countries currently affected, specifically drawing from her experience working in Liberia. 

-- “Desperate People and Circumstances: Are Desperate Solutions Wise?” Wednesday, Sept. 24, 5 p.m., 217 Perkins Library

Dr. Philip Rosoff, director of clinical ethics, Duke University Hospital, will speak to the challenges of planning for a pandemic and the ethical implications of untested vaccine use. 

-- “Nigeria’s First-Hand Country Response,” Thursday, Sept. 25, noon-1 p.m., 040 Trent Hall 

Dr. Faisal Shuaib, incident manager, Ebola Emergency Operations Center in Nigeria, will discuss Nigeria’s response managing this pandemic (via live video conference). 

-- Film Screening: “Contagion,” Friday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m., Richard White Auditorium, East Campus

This 2011 film, directed by Steven Soderbergh, follows the fictionalized story of a lethal airborne virus and attempts to control it. 

All of these events are free and open to the entire Duke community and the public. Refreshments will be served at some of the events.