Report

Workshop. Pandemic Influenza: Assessing Capabilities for Prevention and Response

Released:: April 27, 2004
Type:: Workshop Summary
Topics:: Diseases, Global Health, Public Health
Activity:: Forum on Microbial Threats
Board:: Board on Global Health

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.

Another influenza pandemic may inevitably occur in humans soon, many infectious disease experts agree. Yet the general public does not appear to share this perception, especially in the shadow of equally scary but less likely risks such as a bioterrorist attack with aerosolized smallpox. 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.

For these reasons, the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats will host the public workshop Pandemic Influenza: Assessing Capabilities for Prevention and Response on June 16 and 17, 2004, in Washington, D.C. Through invited presentations and discussion, this workshop will aim to inform the Forum, the public, and policymakers of the likelihood of an influenza pandemic and to explore the issues that must be resolved now to prepare and protect the global community.

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Other Reports by this Activity

Displaying: 3 of 28 Reports

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
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
The Causes and Impacts of Neglected Tropical and Zoonotic Diseases: Opportunities for Integrated Intervention Strategies - Workshop Summary Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) afflict more than 1.4 billion people, many of whom live on less than $1.25 a day. While there are effective ways to manage NTDs, policy-makers and funders have only recently begun to recognize the economic and public health importance of controlling NTDs. The IOM’s Forum on Microbial Threats held a workshop September 21-22, 2010, to discuss the science of and policy surrounding NTDs.
Released: June 1, 2011