Report
Note: Workshop Summaries contain the opinion of the presenters, but do NOT reflect the conclusions of the IOM. Learn more about the differences between Workshop Summaries and Consensus Reports.
There has been increased concern about the prospect of an influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable. Yet the general public does not appear to share this perception, especially in the shadow of equally scary but less likely risks of a bioterrorist attack. Moreover, recent problems with the availability and strain-specificity of vaccine for annual flu epidemics in some countries and the rise of pandemic strains of avian flu in disparate geographic regions have alarmed experts about the world's ability to prevent or contain a human pandemic. The workshop summary, The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? A Workshop Summary, addresses this urgent concern.
The workshop, sponsored by the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats, aimed to inform the Forum, the public, and policymakers of the likelihood of an influenza pandemic and explored the issues that must be resolved to prepare and protect the global community. Participants discussed the history of influenza pandemics and the potentially valuable lessons it holds; the 2003-2004 H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Asia and its implications for human health; ongoing pandemic influenza preparedness planning at global, regional, national, state, and local levels; strategies for preventing and controlling avian influenza and its transmission within bird and animal populations; and a broad range of medical, technical, social, economic and political opportunities for pandemic preparedness, as well as the many obstacles that stand in the way of this goal.
Other Reports by this Activity
Displaying: 3 of 28 Reports
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The Science and Applications of Synthetic and Systems Biology - Workshop Summary
The completion of the initial draft of the human genome sequence in 2001 represented a fundamental shift in the way biology was studied, and allowed for vast post-genomic possibilities. Until the past decade, the work was often painstakingly slow; however, new strategies combining engineering and biological techniques have enhanced researchers' abilities. These new synthetic techniques allow for genes and long chains of DNA to be designed and manufactured from scratch using a computer and relevant chemical compounds, rather than manipulating pieces of existing genes from living cells. The IOM’s Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop March 14-15, 2011 to explore the scientific and policy dimensions of recent developments in genetic engineering and their applications to emerging infectious diseases.
Released: November 23, 2011
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Fungal Diseases: An Emerging Threat To Human, Animal, and Plant Health - Workshop Summary
Fungal diseases have contributed to death and disability in humans, triggered global wildlife extinctions and population declines, devastated agricultural crops, and altered forest ecosystem dynamics. Despite the extensive influence of fungi on health and economic well-being, the threats posed by emerging fungal pathogens to life on Earth are often underappreciated and poorly understood. On December 14 and 15, 2010, the IOM’s Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore the scientific and policy dimensions associated with the causes and consequences of emerging fungal diseases.
Released: September 9, 2011
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