Avian influenza and reflecting on three years of COVID-19: Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D.


Answers from the Lab

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, discuss why avian influenza has recently been in the news and lessons learned from managing COVID-19.

Specific topics of discussion include:

  • Why the current outbreak of avian influenza is causing concern as other animals, mammals, and several humans have been infected.
  • How Mayo Clinic is preparing for the potential need for avian flu testing.
  • Reflecting on the three-year anniversary of the national emergency declaration in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Lessons learned that could be applied to any potential future pandemics.

Podcast episode

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Podcast episode in video format

Answers from the Lab is a Mayo Clinic Laboratories curated podcast sharing knowledge and advancements regarding the state of testing, laboratory science, and the people who make it all happen behind the scenes. 

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.

Suzanne Ferguson

Suzanne Ferguson is a Marketing Channel Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories and has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2014. Outside of work, Suzanne can be found traveling, reading and spending time with her family.