Disease Detectives
Solving the Puzzle: Lyme Disease, West Nile Virus and You
at the Yale Peabody Museum

On view to October 10, 2009 – January 31, 2010

This fall the Museum is showing two exhibits that relate to human health – Disease Detectives from the Science Museum of Minnesota and Solving the Puzzle: Lyme Disease, West Nile Virus  & You.

Disease Detectives is a traveling exhibition that enables visitors to solve infectious disease mysteries while playing the role of a disease detective. This is a hands-on multimedia exhibit that invites visitors to investigate a case by meeting the patient through an interactive mannequin, and by interpreting their lab tests to learn more about infectious disease transmission and prevention. Each clinical situation highlights a different mode of disease transmission and the associated illnesses. A historical timeline illustrates the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases over time. Larger than life 3D microbe sculptures invite visitors to touch, explore and learn more about the disease. And afterwards you can play the microbe dance game!

Solving the Puzzle investigates West Nile virus and Lyme Disease. These two diseases are ‘vector-borne’, that is the pathogen is transmitted to humans via an arthropod – in both cases a blood-sucking one!  Introduced by giant models of a mosquito and tick, the exhibit includes information on the puzzle that comprises the transmission, detection, and treatment of these diseases. The exhibit explores the differences between viral and bacterial pathogens, when they arrived in Connecticut, and how the changing environment is increasing the incidence of both diseases. A live mosquito colony (safely behind glass) and live ticks (also safely behind glass) will allow you to observe these animals at close proximity. Information will be provided on how to protect yourself as well as available treatments for each disease. As part of the Museum’s yearlong celebration of Darwin’s work the exhibit will also look at how his (then) revolutionary idea of evolution by natural selections informs our understanding of these complex disease interactions.

Check out our flyer for our upcoming event: got flu...lessons?

Both exhibitions are made possible by Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) awards from the National Center for Research Resources a component of the National Institutes of Health.

The Museum would like to thank the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation for their support of this exhibit.

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