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CAST assist in bird flu communication chaos
As attention around the world focuses on the
potential for an avian influenza pandemic, there is concern that sensationalism
may overrule facts, ironically creating the very chaos it
predicts.
According to Dr. John Bonner, Executive Vice President of the Council for
Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) in the US it is critical in this
situation that individuals and organisations be prepared to act rather than
react.
CAST recently published two papers on the impacts of an avian
influenza pandemic. These concise Commentaries, written for a general audience,
have received wide recognition and are available to view and download without
charge by visiting the CAST
website.
The first paper, "Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic
Concerns" addresses the current situation, evaluates the structure and function
of avian influenza viruses, outlines pandemic risk assessment, and provides
references and selected websites for more detailed information.
The
second paper "Avian Influenza: Trade Issue" brings the trade concerns into
sharper focus. Although much of the concern about a pandemic outbreak of
high-pathogenic avian influenza centres on human health, the potential impacts
on the international poultry and feed grains trade are
significant.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology,
headquartered in Ames, Iowa, assembles, interprets, and communicates credible,
science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally to
legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the
public.
Editor WorldPoultry
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