a comic book to explain influenza viruses
A professor and researcher in virology at the Toulouse veterinary school has just published a comic book on influenza viruses. In pictures and with humor, he explains to us how they reproduce, why they mutate and how to protect themselves from them.
It’s a scientific comic strip in tune with the times. In full cover, it will satisfy the curiosity of many, from 16 to 99 years old. A book that can also help to better understand the health crisis we are going through.
Pierre Bessière, professor and researcher in virology at the Toulouse veterinary school published last June a comic strip “The flu, a virus, ducks and men” to explain to us how influenza viruses work, both in humans than in animals.
It is complicated to visualize viruses, the fact of going through the drawing allows to better explain complex scientific concepts such as their transmission or their mutation. Drawing is, in my opinion, the best tool for scientific mediation today.
Pierre Bessière, researcher in virology at the Toulouse veterinary school
In a scientific and humorous way, supported by illustrator Yohan Colombié-Vivès, Pierre Bessière explains to us with his boards what a virus is, how it reproduces, why it mutates, how to protect itself from it and what role birds play, ducks, more specifically, participate in epidemics.
“The avian influenza virus, which affects our birds, is a fine example of a virus that could one day cause a pandemic. These viruses are part of the concept of ‘one health’ which says that health human, animal health and that of ecosystems closely linked, continuation of the author of this comic.
With global warming linked to human activity and the collapse of ecosystems, by encroaching on the wild world, we are seeing the emergence of new viral diseases. It’s good to be a virus in the 21st century!
Pierre Bessière, author of the comic strip “The flu, a virus, ducks and men”
In this illustrated book, the bird flu virus is deciphered and for good reason. “It is in birds that we have the greatest diversity of viruses and that they have the most subtypes (H5N1 etc …). They can then spread, be transmitted to other animals or even to the man. So it’s interesting to follow them closely “, pursuit of the scientist.
Explaining, deciphering, doing scientific mediation but also alerting on the impact of human activity on our environment and on our health were the objectives of this comic.
The bet is successful. The book “The flu, a virus, ducks and men” has just been pre-selected for the 13th edition of the Prix Le Goût des Sciences 2022, a prize created by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research .