Dr Robert Gallo, one of the doctors who co-discovered HIV will be one of the expert virologists who will speak at a three day viral workshop for journalists which opens at St George’s University on Thursday.
The participants who are mainly health reporters are from various U.S. and Caribbean media outlets and they will be provided with an opportunity to learn firsthand about the nature of viruses, their spread, and virus treatments and vaccinations.
“The workshop aims to take what can be a complex subject — the science and epidemiology of viruses — and break it down to a comprehensible level that can be utilised when reporters need to communicate to the masses about important news relating to viruses,” said release from SGU.
Besides Dr Gallo, who is widely known for his co-discovery of HIV and his development of the blood test other expert virologist scheduled to speak at the workshop are Dr Ellen Ratner and Dr James Hamblin.
Dr Gallo discovered the first known human retroviruses (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) which are endemic to regions in the Caribbean including Grenada.
It is organised by the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) in partnership with the Global Virus Network.
