BBC Newsround film at Infection 2009

A school party who visited Infection 2009 today found themselves thrust in the media spotlight when BBC Newsround heart throb Ricky dropped in to interview them about bugs and sneezes.

The pupils from the Arthur Terry School used a “snotgun” and a mask of Homer’s face to fire a sneeze through his nostrils and down a “runway” to demonstrate how far a sneeze travels. Ricky and his cameraman Steven were very friendly and worked hard to edit their filming before it was screened earlier this evening. It was a great boost for the fun, but factual, e-bug project which is being promoted by the Health Protection Agency to raise awareness for young people about germs and personal hygiene.

I’m afraid I missed seeing it on television at 5pm and was very surprised to learn that the ICC’s giant screens cannot show the main TV channels as they are only used to highlight events on their complex. I was hoping to see it there with my colleagues.

ITV Central spent 1 1/2 hours filming some of lead medical experts and health professionals about superbugs, and were keen to meet Dr Frank Rijsberman, from Google.org, who is tracking swine flu and pandemics globally through search engines, though not for the UK. He was filmed inside an innovative and highly sophisticated isolation pod which is like a self-contained suite and being trialled by the NHS.

A local journalist from the radio station Heart FM arrived too and was very enthusiastic about the kids’ activities, keen to get over the simple message that when kids sneeze, they should “catch it, bin it and kill it!”

All that remains now is for me to get ready for the conference dinner and put on my sparkling top. I have no idea what is on the menu, but I’m looking forward dancing the night away.