Presentation (8/24/2005):

• View program video (Windows media required)
• Video transcript [pdf] [web browser]
• Program summary [pdf]
• Slides [pdf] [ppt]

Discussion Questions:

1. What happens when the influenza A virus transfers from wild birds to domestic birds?
2. How are bird flu and human flu related?
3. What is needed for a pandemic to occur? Which of these conditions are present at this time?
4. How can we become more prepared for a bird flu outbreak?
5. What are the positives and negatives of the recently discovered vaccine?

Related Links

Press Conference (U.S. Department of State)
Bush says the United States is preparing for a possible bird flu outbreak.

Get Up to Date (WHO)
WHO site provides the latest bird flu information.

Short Supply (ABC News)
Medicine isn't readily available to treat a bird flu outbreak, reports ABC News.

From Birds to Humans (WHO)
How did this happen?

Stocking Up (USA Today)
United States plans to buy bulk supplies of the experimental bird flu vaccine.

Bird Flu in Humans (WHO)
The World Health Organization reports the cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian flu.

Warnings of a Flu Pandemic (Nature)
Nature, the international weekly journal of science, provides a Web Focus on avian flu with news and scientific reports warning about the potential of a human flu pandemic.

Signs and Symptoms (Mayo Clinic)
Mayo Clinic describes how bird flu reveals itself in humans.

Avian Flu Vaccine Not Coming to Your Local Pharmacy (MedicineNet)
A top U.S. health official says successful human trials don't translate to immediate use.