Bird flu – the pandemic clock is ticking
Useful sites
Department of Health and Aging, Australia
The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition, 2012
Strengthening Immunisation for Children - Immunise Australia
Frequently asked questions about immunisation
Immunisation: Myths and realities
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Drugs may be too late to fix bird flu (News in Science, 12 October 2005)
Says that, apart from ordering vaccines and drugs, little has been done to prepare for an outbreak of bird flu.
Deadly markets (The Lab 8 July, 2004)
Live animal markets provide the perfect trading place for microorganisms – such as the bird flu – to jump between species.
Killer flu (Catalyst, 19 February 2004
Investigates the threat of bird flu mixing with human flu to create a lethal new virus.
Avian flu (Health Report, 9 February 2004)
Whether H5N1 could cause the next flu pandemic depends on its ability to
mutate into a fully-fledged human flu.
Influenza fact file
Part of the Health Matters Library, this site contains links to a fact file about influenza, news and transcripts from ABC sources of articles concerned with the flu and links to non-ABC sites containing information about influenza.
Avian influenza (Veterinary Education and Information Network, University of Sydney)
Provides links to a comprehensive list of resources on bird flu including the latest updates, Australian resources, Ausvetplan and overseas sites.
How stuff works, USA
How the flu works (by Stephanie Watson)
How your immune system works (by Marshall Brain)
Avian flu (Nature reports)
Provides up-to-date information on bird flu, including a timeline.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Influenza
Provides up-to-date information about influenza epidemics and vaccines. Australian information is available at WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza.
Avian influenza ('bird flu') and the significance of its transmission to humans
WHO has issued a fact sheet about the significance for human health of avian influenza.
Avian influenza frequently asked questions
WHO checklist for influenza pandemic preparedness planning
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA)
Key facts about influenza and the influenza vaccine
Contains general information about influenza including symptoms, spread and prevention of the flu.
Influenza: The disease
Contains information about how the disease can affect people differently, the flu season and what to do if you get the flu.
Spread of avian influenza viruses among birds
Transmission of influenza A viruses between animals and people
Avian influenza infection in humans
The 'flu' (Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, USA)
Provides a useful summary of features of the flu virus, the infection process, viruses that have caused pandemics and prevention methods.
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (University of Minnesota)
This site provides the latest news on bird flu.
The Why Files (Science Behind the News, USA)
Welcome to the zoonoses hall of fame
Describes some of the most notorious zoonotic diseases.
Monkeypox is quelled for now
Answers the questions 'Where do new infections come from?' and 'How do they spread into human populations?'.
Pandora’s box
Predicts which zoonoses will emerge next.
Epidemiology’s eternal buzzword: Prevention
Explains how to prevent infection of humans by viruses from animals, including pets.
Page updated July 2009.