Visit us in person!
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60610
Hours
Monday - Friday
9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
For medical, historical, and museum related gifts, shop our Museum Store!
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GIANTmicrobes two new COVID-19 products are available for pre-ordering. Place your orders now for shipping in June.
Your purchase will support the charities listed below.
Size: 2-4" with clip. Giantmicrobes are based on actual microbes, cells, organisms and other critters, only 1,000,000 times actual size!
Materials: Plush from all new materials. Stuffed with polyester fiber fill. Surface washable: sponge with water & soap, air dry.
Packaging: Each plush microbe includes a printed card with fun, educational and fascinating facts about the actual microbe or cell.
Safety: Every product meets or exceeds U.S. and European standards for safety. For ages 3 and up.
Cities are locked down, schools and businesses are closed, cruise ships are floating petri dishes, economies quiver and thousands of people are quarantined. The World Health Organization warns of the threat of global pandemic. This is the face of the coronavirus disease named COVID-19.
Identified in 2019 in China, COVID-19 quickly spread around the world. Spreading along with it: confusion, rumors and fear. As of early 2020, much about this virus remains unclear. Compared to the seasonal flu, COVID-19 seems to be more contagious and have a higher fatality rate. Scientists and public health experts scramble to confront it with 21st century therapies and vaccines. Meanwhile, governments "go medieval" by closing borders and isolating terrified citizens inside their tainted towns. What should you do when a mysterious microbe comes knocking and the threat of a modern day plague is in the air? Start by staying calm and learning the facts.
The name COVID-19 stands for corona virus and disease. Corona is for its crown-like protein spikes. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, jumping from animals to humans. Many originate in bats. SARS was transmitted by civets, MERS by camels, and COVID-19 perhaps by pangolins sold in wildlife food markets. With contagious microbes, you are often at the mercy of nature and the interconnectedness of our world.
COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person through respiratory droplets carried in coughs or sneezes. It may also be transmitted by touching your mouth, eyes or nose after touching contaminated metal, plastic and other hard surfaces on which a virus can survive the longest. People are most contagious when showing signs of sickness, yet the virus may spread before symptoms occur. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some have no symptoms at all. The best way to prevent illness is to minimize exposure with common-sense measures. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth. Stay home when sick. Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Face masks are for healthcare workers and those who are already sick.
Microbes are remarkable and mostly good - vital to our bodies and our planet. However, when it comes to the struggle against black death, malaria, flu and other diseases such as COVID-19, it is human wits versus microbe genes. If we want to triumph, we must think clearly, learn, prepare and respect the microbe world.
The International Museum of Surgical Science, a division of the International College of Surgeons (ICS), maintains over 10,000 square feet of public galleries committed to the history of surgery, and an exquisite permanent collection of art and artifacts from the history of Medicine. The Museum supports its Mission through medically themed exhibitions and programs, in addition to a strong contemporary art exhibition program.
Visit us in person!
Hours
Monday - Friday
9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.