A free public educational seminar about the Avian Flu will beoffered Tuesday at noon in the Crowley Room at King’s DaughtersMedical Center.

The public seminar follows two inservice training sessions foremployees of the hospital, said JoAnna Sproles, director of theKDMC Foundation, which is hosting the event.

“The Avian Flu is a hot topic right now with increasing casesmaking the news and more information becoming available,” shesaid.

Cases are widespread in Asia, Europe and Russia, but the virushas not yet crossed to America’s shores. Many experts, however,believe it’s only a matter of time.

The Avian (or bird) Flu is caused by influenza that occurnaturally in wild birds. The H5N1 variant that has emerged isdeadly to domestic fowl and can be transmitted from birds tohumans. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available.

The seminar is a part of the hospital’s Lunch & Learnseries, which is held four times each year on health and wellnesstopics. Seating is limited, but Sproles said a few spotsremain.

“We still have room for about a dozen or so more,” she said.

Dr. Bernard Boca, a family practitioner at the Quick CareMedical Clinic, is the guest speaker for the seminar. Boca onlyrecently moved into the Brookhaven area and the seminar provides away to introduce him to the community, Sproles said.

“This is a way for us to get him in front of the community andlet people get to know him,” she said. “He’s been busy at theclinic so he hasn’t done a lot outside of it.”

Reservations may be made by calling (601) 835-9366.