INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Leveraging the H1N1 Outbreak to Gain Visibility

ISID Home The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) is comprised of individual members from more than 155 countries around the world. Since its inception, ISID has been dedicated to improving the care of patients with infectious diseases, the professional development and standing of clinicians and scientists in the field, and the control of infectious diseases around the world. SM& has worked with ISID for the past three years to raise awareness of the organization through proactive media outreach and relationship building, by reacting to breaking news regarding the outbreak of infectious diseases and by placing ISID spokespeople in major media outlets.

A prime opportunity to insert ISID into a global news story came in April 2009 when reports of Swine Flu cases began to emerge. Dr. Richard Wenzel, immediate past president of ISID, was on the frontline of the 1976 Swine Flu outbreak and has deep knowledge about its spread. By using our media relationships and continued outreach, SM& was successful in getting Dr. Wenzel quoted and used as a source in more than 440 articles worldwide.

Dr. Wenzel was featured on the Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck TV shows, radio programs including NPR’s “The Takeaway,” and print and online articles in outlets including the Associated Press, Dow Jones, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Boston Globe, Washington Post, MSNBC.com, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, New York Times, and the BBC, and had an op-ed posted on the Huffington Post. The team also leveraged social media tools, including posts on Dr. Wenzel’s blog, Twitter updates, and comments on industry blogs.

As a result of the coverage, CBS-TV sent a crew to follow Dr. Wenzel as he traveled to Mexico City to study the effects of the disease on patients at a local ICU, and to participate in strategy discussions regarding the release of the vaccine. The show featured ISID and ran on the Science Channel on May 31.

Dr. Wenzel continues to be used as a regular source for reporters and television networks, in each case bringing more national and international mainstream renown to ISID.