LOCAL TALK Tuesday 02 March 2021 Meetz

Dr. Molly Lee, Associate Director of the Center for Food Security & Public Health at the Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine Reviewed updates with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic including numbers of infected individuals and current distribution efforts.Vaccination numbers and vaccine status: announcement that Johnson and Johnson’s product will soon be available.  Reviewed how this vaccine differs from the Pfizer and Maderna products (the mRNA /adenovirus vector vaccine delivers a gene that carries the blueprint for the viral spike protein ket component in infection sequence).

Dr. Karen Harmon, Clinical Associate Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Diagnostic Laboratory shared information about the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing. 
Describes her position with the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL). Summarized importance of PCR testing in animal health described the laboratory’s ability to test large numbers of samples.  Explained the basic principles of the PCR test and explained its sensitivity and specificity.  Reviewed the VDL -University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory partnership and the test adaptation, training, validation and certification of the COVID-19 testing for human use.

Susan Qwiasda, City of Ames Public Relations Officer and Keith Abraham, Director of Ames Parks and Recreation reviewed the planning and construction progress of a number of projects including the Indoor Aquatic Center, the downtown plaza, some additional amenities for parks located in various areas within the city, and the clubhouse for the Homewood golf course.                     

City of Ames: cityofames.org

Anna Magnusson: anna@iowaable.org

Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine: vetmed.iastate.edu.

 

Originally broadcast 03/02/2021