05 December 2005
Challenge Posed by Bird Flu Examined in New Publication
Online product addresses scientific and policy issues of potential flu pandemic
Pandemic influenza is a very real health threat. In response, the United States is devoting science and resources to an international effort to contain the bird flu epidemic in Asia and prevent a global outbreak of disease that could result in widespread illness, millions of deaths and vast economic and social disarray.
Meeting the Challenge of Bird Flu (PDF, 21 pages), produced by the State Department’s International Information Programs bureau, offers readers a concise summary of the events giving rise to warnings that a form of animal influenza plaguing Asia will transform into a human illness and sweep the world. Such a virus, to which humans likely would have no immunity, could cause hundreds of millions of illnesses and deaths, bringing widespread economic and social disruption.
The new online publication, in addition to addressing the science and history of the current pandemic threat, provides information about the magnitude of the threat in given regions and practical steps to avoid infection.
Meeting the Challenge of Bird Flu also describes the U.S. commitment to lead the world in a global response plan, the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza announced by President Bush in September. As part of that effort, the United States and other nations are working to raise awareness of the influenza threat, coordinate efforts between donor and affected nations and mobilize resources to increase disease surveillance, reporting control and prevention.
The publication is available for download, local reprint and distribution by missions worldwide. There are no republication restrictions.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
