A woman believed to be immune to Ebola died while caring for patients in a high-risk area in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The death disputes the belief that Ebola survivors will not be reinfected. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Congolese authorities are revaluating patient care and guidelines. 

The Ebola virus is something we are learning about on the ground all the time, said Associate Professor of History and African Studies Rosa Williams. “This year there has been this shift in how we understand what it is and how we can address it,” stated Professor Williams.  

Associate Professor of Biology Karin Heckman explained that survivors believed to be immune to Ebola wear different protective gear compared to other caregivers and physicians. 

Due to the possibility of reinfection survivors may have to wear the heavier protective equipment. Heckman further explained that the WHO and other authorities are also concerned with redetermining immunity and the accuracy of tests. “How effective are the tests used to determine the parameter of immunity?” asked Professor Heckman. 

The Public Health minor at St. Lawrence University prepares students to recognize public health issues in the United States and how those issues contrast to those in other countries, stated Professor Heckman. Emma Henshaw 21’ a Public Health minor, also discussed the moment she recognized both the broad and local applications of the minor.

“I had this realization during a seminar, which Kari Heckman spoke at, that public health doesn’t just mean working for the US Department of Health,” she said, “it also allows for more involvement with society on a local level.” Henshaw chose the minor because it aligned well with her other academic interests, such as biology.

Lily MacCachran 22’ also explained that she chose the minor because it allows her to connect scientific interests and helping people in way that is not restricted to a lab. “The courses help you humanize things like disease and conflict,” stated MacCachran. The minor offers diverse classes, which enable students to tailor the minor to their interests she said.

“The Public Health program offers a diverse group of courses,” said Professor Williams. Each class consists of unique approaches to discussing public health topics, but “the intersection between big structural processes, conditions, and individual and population health is a commonality of these classes.” 

Thinking critically and beyond the biomedical aspect is another component of Public Health classes. 

“You to have critical thought on how societies are organized, how knowledge is shared and how things change over time,” stated Professor Williams. The creation of the minor began from informal discussions and the expressed interest of students, said Professor Heckman. 

“Students are interested because Public Health is very interdisciplinary,” she said, “and St. Lawrence is focused on the idea that you can approach a problem from different angles.” 

Due to the popularity of the minor, there is currently discussion of a Public Health major and a search for a tenure track position in the Public Health field said Professor Heckman.

“We are going to be hiring someone this year in order to expand the number of faculty, so we can further develop the idea of a Public Health major,” stated Professor Heckman.