Health: Avian Influenza and Pandemic Influenza Information

by Inés DeRomaña

The online resources below offer a range of information from various sources that may help us anticipate, prepare for, and respond to a possible future influenza pandemic and/or any other new and emerging disease.

Government Resources
Nongovernment Resources
International Resources

Sample Web Pages from Programs and Institutions of Higher Education
Country Preparedness Plans

U.S. Government Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC site provides background information about avian influenza, including recent outbreaks, the viruses, the risk to human health and the transmission from animals to humans. It also includes information on guidelines and recommendations for airlines and travelers abroad.

• Checklist for College and University Pandemic Preparedness
• Emerging Infectious Disease Journal with links to recent articles
• Pandemic Influenza: Worldwide Preparedness with planning checklists
• Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (280kb )

PandemicFlu.Gov sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The official U.S. government Web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza.

Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
Resources for information on avian influenza.

U.S. Department of State Travel Tips
Avian Flu Fact Sheet

U.S. Department of State - Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs International Health Affairs

Avian Influenza
This site provides resources, press releases, and fact sheets on the global perspective and initiatives in combating avian influenza.

White House
National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza
This site contains information about preparedness, communication, surveillance, detection, response, and containment for the departments and agencies of the U.S. government.

Nongovernment U.S. Resources

Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy (CIDRAP)
University of Minnesota
CIDRAP evaluates the public health system and its readiness to respond to an infectious disease crisis as well as analysis of the state of infectious disease medical practice and the ability of the nation's health care system to respond in the event of a catastrophe (e.g., a bioterrorist act).

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1973 and dedicated to educating the public and health care professionals about the causes, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases.

ProMED Mail
International Society for Infectious Diseases
This site is a global electronic reporting system for outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases and toxins, open to all sources. It is a program for monitoring emerging diseases.

International Resources

European Commission Animal Health and Welfare

Food and Agriculture Organization - Animal Production and Health Division
FAO Animal Health - Avian Influenza
This site provides some of the latest information on the cause and nature of disease and its spread throughout the world. Biweekly maps on outbreaks and their relationship to migratory birds are listed. There are guidance documents on the surveillance and control of the disease, as well as extensive descriptions of the disease using photos and videos.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-Emergency Prevention System (EMPRES)
Emergency Prevention System - Spotlight Avian Influenza
This site contains links to biweekly maps of disease outbreaks, as well as current publications, reports, and events. It also contains links to the FAO-AIDE news bulletin, which is prepared by the FAO Technical Task Force on Avian Influenza.

PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO)
Avian Influenza

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
Avian Influenza Homepage
The OIE provides policies on diagnosis, control, surveillance, and eradication of the disease in animals. The extensive information on this site is meant to assist governments and veterinary services that are affected by avian influenza or that want to protect territories from the disease.

World Health Organization (WHO) – Influenza Pandemic
This site contains WHO’s global influenza preparedness plan.

World Health Organization (WHO)
Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response
Disease Outbreak News
This site contains the latest information on avian influenza virus around the world. The site contains recent guidelines, recommendations, descriptions, and reports. It also includes the latest news worldwide and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Flu in China
Flu Information Centre
This site provides current information and resources related to influenza topics, such as virus research, public health preparedness, industry development, public policy, and other hot topics, as well as a current list of guidelines and articles in the literature.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic

British Columbia Centre for Disease Control
This site includes planning templates that can be utilized in managing other respiratory disease outbreaks.

Canadian Influenza Pandemic Planning
This site includes contingency planning, preparedness, response and recovery documents, guidelines, and checklists issues by the Canadian government.

U.K. - Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Avian Influenza Homepage
This Web site is regularly updated with guidance and advice on control measures.

New Zealand Ministry of Health

International News Archive
ABC Science Online: Avian Influenza/Bird Flu
Australian Broadcast System
An archive of recent articles gathered from Australia and overseas published by ABC Science Online on the topic of Avian Influenza. Users can also check the "Latest News" section of the Web site for the most recent updates on all science news stories (including Avian Influenza).