Dr. A. Monto

Arnold S. Monto is Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor and is Founding Director of the Bioterrorism Preparedness Initiative. The major focus of his work has been the epidemiology, prevention and treatment of acute infections in the individual and the community. These activities have included work on the occurrence and characteristics of the infections as well as potential for vaccine prevention and antiviral treatment. Respiratory infections, in particular influenza, have been a major interest, with special reference to the evaluation of vaccines in various populations and the assessment of the value of antiviral such as amantadine, rimantadine and the neuraminidase inhibitors. He has worked on these issues in tropical as well as temperate regions. He led the studies of respiratory infection in Tecumseh, MI, a landmark study of infection in the community. Dr. Monto was closely involved in the US HCFA-sponsored studies, which made influenza vaccine a covered benefit for older individuals. He has also studied other approaches to influenza vaccine use, particularly to control transmission of the virus in the community and in nursing homes. He is currently involved in assessing the efficacy of various types of influenza vaccine, the neuraminidase inhibitors in prophylaxis and therapy of influenza, as well as non-pharmaceutical interventions in interrupting transmission. His recent activities have also included evaluation of face masks and hand hygiene in the control of influenza transmission. He works extensively with national and international organizations on issues related to pandemic preparedness and was a member of the WHO Influenza Pandemic Task Force. During his tenure at the University of Michigan, Dr. Monto has also served for periods of time in the Acute Respiratory Infection program at the World Health Organization, Geneva, and as Scholar in Residence at the United States Institute of Medicine/National Research Council. He has been a member of the Pulmonary Diseases Advisory Committee and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and of the National Allergy and Infectious Disease Advisory Council. He has also served on various United States and international advisory bodies addressing the overall response to the problem of emerging and reemerging infections, control of influenza in the seasonal and pandemic situation, and bioterrorism preparedness. He is the past president of the American Epidemiological Society.