2006 Home Page News Archive

Dec 29 — 

Molecular Anatomy of Influenza Virus Detailed More >>

Dec 18 — 

Report Issued Summarizing Federal Department/Agency Pandemic Planning Actions to Date More >>

Dec 05 — 

Report Released on Tabletop Exercises for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness in Local Public Health Agencies Report >>

Dec 04 — 

CDC Awards $11.4 Million to Develop New Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Avian Influenza News Release >>

Nov 27 — 

WHO issues Guidelines for Investigation of Human Cases of Avian Flu Guidelines >>

Nov 20 — 

HHS Buys Additional Vaccine for Potential Use in an Influenza Pandemic More >>

Nov 14 — 

U.S. and Mexico Pledge Increased Cooperation in Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Along Border News Release >>

Nov 14 — 

Inexpensive Test Detects H5N1 Infections Quickly and Accurately News Release >>

Nov 13 — 

Department of Health and Human Services Releases Pandemic Planning Update III More >>

Nov 09 — 

Dr Margaret Chan to be WHO's next Director-General More >>

Nov 08 — 

Dr Margaret Chan nominated to be WHO Director-General News Release >>
Secretary Leavitt, Dept of Health & Human Services Statement >>

Nov 06 — 

WHO issues Field Guide to Collecting, Preserving and Shipping Specimens for the Diagnosis of H5N1 Field Guide >>

Nov 02 — 

WHO Working Group Report: Influenza Research at the Human and Animal Interface Report >>

Oct 30 — 

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Emergence and Predominance of an H5N1 influenza Variant in China More >>

Oct 26 — 

Confirmatory Tests Complete on Ohio Duck Samples Find No Avian Influenza More >>

Oct 26 — 

Harvard Survey: Public Reaction if a Pandemic News Release >>

Oct 25 — 

New Study Has Important Implications for Influenza Surveillance and Vaccine Production News Release >>

Oct 23 — 

WHO Issues Global Pandemic Influenza Action Plan to Increase Vaccine Supply Plan >>
WHO News Release >>
Statement by Secretary Leavitt >>

Oct 17 — 

Experimental Vaccine Protects Mice Against Deadly 1918 Flu Virus More >>

Oct 17 — 

Guidance on Use of Surgical Masks and Respirators in Health Care Settings Released Guidance Document >>

Oct 16 — 

Department of ED TV Show: Keeping Our Children Safe and Secure- Pandemic Flu and Emergency Preparedness to Air Tuesday October 17 More >>

Oct 14 — 

Ohio Wild Bird Samples Undergo Additional Avian Influenza Testing More >>

Oct 12 — 

Updates on Vaccine Trials More >>

Oct 12 — 

New Crisis Management Centre Launched by FAO More >>

Oct 07 — 

Avian Influenza Tests Complete on Wild Northern Pintail Ducks in Montana More >>

Oct 06 — 

FAO Announces No Significant Change in Indonesian Bird Flu Virus More >>

Sept 29 — 

Illinois Wild Bird Samples Undergo Additional Avian Influenza Testing More >>

Sept 28 — 

Avian Influenza Tests Complete Confirm No H5N1 in Wild Green-Winged Teals in Illinois More >>

Sept 28 — 

FDA Issues Guidance to Industry for Development of Cell-Based Viral Vaccines More >>

Sept 28 — 

CDC Influenza Expert Selected as Federal Employee of the Year More >>

Sept 27 — 

Mouse Study Reveals New Clues about Virulence of 1918 Influenza Virus More >>

Sept 23 — 

Avian Influenza Tests Complete on Pennsylvania Wild Mallard Ducks Confirm Low-Pathogenic H5N1 More >>

Sept 21 — 

Montana Wild Bird Samples Undergo Additional Avian Influenza Testing More >>

Sept 21 — 

Statement on Avian Influenza by USAID Administrator Randall Tobias More >>

Sept 20 — 

Statements on the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns >>
Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt >>

Sept 12 — 

Live H5N1 Avian Flu Virus Vaccines Show Protection in Animal Studies More >>

Sept 12 — 

Avian Influenza Tests on Maryland Wild Mallard Ducks Confirm Low-Pathogenic H5N1 More >>

Sept 06 — 

Satellites Help Scientists Track Migratory Birds: GPS the Latest Tool in Fight Against Avian Influenza More >>

Sept 02 — 

Confirmatory Tests Being Conducted on Pennsylvania Wild Bird Samples More >>

Sept 01 — 

USDA Updates Avian Influenza Definitions for Low Pathogenic H5N1 vs. Highly Pathogenic H5N1 More >>

Sept 01 — 

Confirmatory Tests Being Conducted on Maryland Wild Bird Fecal Samples More >>

Aug. 30 — 

PandemicFlu.gov En Español Is Now Available More >>

Aug. 30 — 

FAO Handbook offers guidance to small poultry farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean
English Press Release >>
Noticia en español >>
Guía en español (PDF) >>

Aug. 29 — 

DOI, USDA, and State Partners have Tested More Than 13,000 Wild Migratory Birds in Alaska and Have Not Detected Any Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza More >>

Aug. 29 — 

WHO Issues Case Definitions for Human Infections with Influenza A(H5N1) Virus More >>

Aug. 28 — 

Avian Influenza Tests on Michigan Mute Swans Confirm Specimens had Low-Pathogenic Strain of H5N1 More >>

Aug. 28 — 

Quick Diagnosis of Flu Strains Possible with New Microchip Test More >>

Aug. 25 — 

EPA Issues Guidance on Disposal of Domestic Birds Infected by Avian Influenza More (PDF) >>

Aug. 24 — 

USGS National Wildlife Health Center: Avian Flu Detection Information on Wild Birds Available More >>

Aug. 23 — 

WHO Procedures for Obtaining Release of H5N1 Sequences to the Public Domain More >>

Aug 22 — 

CDC and Association of Public Health Laboratories Make Influenza Virus Sequence Data Publicly Accessible More >>

Aug 18 — 

WHO provides guidance for national authorities and vaccine companies on selection of candidate viruses for vaccine development More >>

Aug 15 — 

New York State Summit More >>

June 29 — 

Department of Agriculture Releases 180 Day Pandemic Planning Report More >>

June 20 — 

Indonesia Holds Avian Influenza Expert Consultation More >>

June 19 — 

USDA Trains Foreign Scientists on Avian Influenza Testing More >>

June 15 — 

Secretary Leavitt, Department of Health and Human Services, Commends Congress for Passing $2.3 Billion Funding for Pandemic Preparedness More >>

June 09 — 

USAID Announces $5 Million Award to Enhance International Efforts to Track Avian Influenza More >>

June 08 — 

Secretary Mike Leavitt, Department of Health and Human Services, Addresses Central American Health Ministers on Pandemic Preparedness More >>

June 07 — 

Paula J. Dobriansky, State Department, Delivers Opening Remarks at the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza Senior Officials Meeting More >>

June 07 — 

CDC Issues Updated Interim Guidance for Laboratory Testing of Persons with Suspected Infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in the U.S. More >>

June 5 — 

Secretaries Johanns (USDA) and Leavitt (HHS), and Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Rajeev Venkayya, Hold Tele-News Conference on U.S. Preparations for Avian Influenza More >>

May 31 —  Indonesia Situation Update More >>

May 31 —  Kansas State Summit More >>

May 31 —  New Jersey State Summit More >>

May 30 —  WHO Releases Updated Draft Protocol for Rapid Response and Containment More >>

May 26 —  New Hampshire State Summit More >>

May 23 —  Montana State Summit More >>

May 22 —  Congressional Budget Office Updates Report on Possible Macroeconomic Effects and Policy Issues More >>

May 22 —  Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, Health and Human Services, Addresses the WHO on Pandemic Flu More >>

May 22 —  Dr LEE Jong-wook, Director-General, WHO, died in Geneva, Switzerland, after emergency surgery More >>
Secretary Leavitt, Dept of Health & Human Services Statement >>

May 19 —  WHO Issues Guidelines on Pharmacological Management of Humans Infected with H5N1 More >>

May 18 —  Canada Launches 2006 Wild Bird Survey for Avian Influenza More >>

May 18 —  Oklahoma State Summit More >>

May 18 —  Tribal Leaders Summit More >>

May 17 —  Long-Term Care and Other Residential Facilities Checklist Released
News Release >>
Checklist >>
PDF Version >>

May 09 —  Viewers Guide Released for TV Movie: Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America More >>

May 04 —  HHS Awards Contracts Totaling More Than $1 Billion To Develop Cell-Based Influenza Vaccine Press Release >>
Vaccine Production in Cells >>

May 04 —  Fran Townsend, the President's Homeland Security Advisor, discusses the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza on Ask the White House More >>

May 03 —  National Implementation Plan Released More >>

May 03 —  Avian Influenza Action Group to Coordinate U.S. International Effort More >>

May 01 —  Mississippi State Summit More >>

Apr. 28 —  District of Columbia State Summit More >>

Apr. 27 —  HHS Assistant Secretary Simonson Travels to Bangladesh and India to Enhance Planning for a Potential Influenza Pandemic More >>

Apr. 25 —  Louisiana State Summit More >>

Apr. 25 —  Michigan State Summit More >>

Apr. 25 —  Hawaii State Summit More >>

Apr. 24 —  Pacific Pandemic Summit for Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau More >>

Apr. 19 —  Interregional Spread of Influenza Through United States Described by Virus Type, Size of Population and Commuting Rates and Distance More >>

Apr. 14 —  Washington State Summit More >>

Apr. 13 —  Alaska State Summit More >>

Apr. 10 —  FDA Issues Guidance for Industry on Diagnostic Devices to Detect Influenza A Viruses More >>

Apr. 10 —  Tennessee State Summit More >>

Apr. 07 —  WHO Issues Guidelines for Humanitarian Agencies More >>

Apr. 03 —  Computer Model Examines Strategies to Mitigate Potential U.S. Flu Pandemic More >>

Mar. 30 —  California State Summit More >>

Mar. 30 —  Oregon State Summit More >>

Mar. 29 —  H5N1 Avian Flu Vaccine Clinical Trial Results More >>

Mar. 29 —  FDA Approves 2nd Antiviral for Flu Prevention More >>

Mar. 28 —  New Mexico State Summit More >>

Mar. 27 —  Texas State Summit More >>

Mar. 27 —  Idaho State Summit More >>

Mar. 24 —  Utah State Summit More >>

Mar. 24 —  Colorado State Summit More >>

Mar. 24 —  Puerto Rico State Summit More >>

Mar. 23 —  Indiana State Summit More >>

Mar. 23 —  Virginia State Summit More >>

Mar. 23 —  Virgin Islands State Summit More >>

Mar. 22 —  HHS Buys More Antiviral Medication for the Strategic National Stockpile More >>

Mar. 21 —  Colleges and Universities Checklist

Mar. 21 —  Child Care and Preschool Checklist

Mar. 21 —  North Carolina State Summit More >>

Mar. 20 —  World Health Organization Issues Updated Draft Protocol More >>

Mar. 17 —  Illinois State Summit More >>

Mar. 17 —  Pennsylvania State Summit More >>

Mar. 15 — Wisconsin State Summit More >>

Mar. 13 — Report on Pandemic Planning More >>

Mar. 13 — Medical Offices and Clinics Checklist More >>

Mar. 10 — Wyoming State Summit More >>

North Dakota State Summit
Mar. 9 — Governor John Hoeven and HHS Secretary Leavitt address public health officials, business and community leaders about pandemic flu preparedness. More >>

South Dakota State Summit
Mar. 9 — HHS Secretary Leavitt and Governor Mike Rounds lead Pandemic Flu Summit, inviting local, state, and private health officials. More >>

Statement by Mike Leavitt
Mar. 6 — Statement by Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Regarding Second Strain of the H5N1 Virus More >>

FDA Expedites Development of Flu Vaccines
Mar. 2 — The Food and Drug Administration issues guidance on developing and submitting clinical data for new seasonal and pandemic flu vaccines. More >>

Home Health Care Checklist
Mar. 2 — HHS Secretary Leavitt released a planning checklist for home health care service providers at the Pandemic Planning Summit in Columbia, South Carolina with state officials and community leaders. The new checklist identifies specific steps that home health care service providers can take now to prepare for a pandemic. Checklist >>
Press release >>

South Carolina State Summit
Mar. 2 — Meeting in Columbia, Governor Mark Sanford and HHS Secretary Leavitt host a conference on pandemic planning. More >>

HHS Buys More Antiviral Medication
Mar. 1 — HHS has purchased additional antiviral drugs that will be added to the Strategic National Stockpile and provided to the states when an influenza pandemic is deemed to be imminent. More >>

Planning for Schools (K-12)
Feb. 28 — HHS Secretary Leavitt releases a pandemic planning checklist for school districts, K-12. The checklist covers planning and coordination, infection control, continuity of student learning and core operations, and communications planning. Checklist >>

USDA Bans Some French Poultry
Feb. 27 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has placed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry from the French Department (state) of Ain, based on the diagnosis of avian influenza H5N1 in commercially raised turkeys. More >>

Maryland State Summit
Feb. 24 — Governor Robert Ehrlich and HHS Secretary Leavitt address a statewide summit for state and local officials responsible for health care, schools, government and emergency management. More >>

USAID Increases Funding for Bird Flu Preparedness
Feb. 23 — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is increasing funding for poor countries' preparations for a potential avian influenza pandemic, with funds earmarked to strengthen surveillance, train and equip first responders, and teach farmers and bird sellers what they can do to reduce the spread of the disease. More >>

Nebraska State Summit
Feb. 23 — Governor Dave Heineman and HHS Secretary Leavitt host a planning summit for state and local public health officials, and business and community leaders. More >>(Link has been disabled.)

Missouri State Summit
Feb. 23 — Governor Matt Blount and HHS Deputy Secretary Alex Azar speak at meeting of public health officials, business and community leaders on pandemic flu preparedness. More >>

Alabama State Summit
Feb. 22 — Meeting in Birmingham, Governor Bob Riley and HHS Secretary Leavitt address state and local officials, public health, community, and business leaders. More >>

Delaware State Summit
Feb. 21 — Governor Ruth Ann Minner and HHS Deputy Secretary Alex Azar lead pandemic planning meeting for local and state health officials, and business and community leaders. More >>

Nevada State Summit
Feb. 17 — Governor Kenny Guinn and HHS Secretary Leavitt address public health officials, business and community leaders about pandemic flu preparedness. More >>

Ohio State Summit
Feb. 17 — Meeting in Columbus, Governor Bob Taft and HHS Secretary Leavitt host a conference on pandemic planning. More >>

Florida State Summit
Feb. 16 — HHS Secretary Leavitt and Governor Jeb Bush lead Pandemic Flu Summit, inviting local, state, and private health officials. More >>

Massachusetts State Summit
Feb. 7 — Governor Mitt Romney and HHS Secretary Leavitt address a wide range of community and business leaders from across the state. More >>

HHS and Institut Pasteur Partner on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
Feb. 6 — Memorandum of Understanding signed establishing a Joint HHS-IP Working Group to work on projects to build global capacity to detect flu viruses that could have the potential to trigger a human pandemic. More >>

New Rapid H5 Flu Test Approved
Feb. 3 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves rapid test for H5 flu in humans. More >>

Iowa State Summit
Feb. 3 — Meeting in Des Moines, Governor Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Leavitt discuss pandemic flu planning with state and local officials and private sector partners. More >>

Connecticut State Summit
Feb. 2 — Governor Rell and HHS Secretary Leavitt address state, local and private sector leaders about planning for a possible influenza pandemic. More >>

Pandemic Preparations Story Carried
Feb. 1 — Washington, DC's Capitol Hill newspaper, The Hill published news story, "Heading off a bird flu pandemic" by HHS Secretary Leavitt More >>

Teams Join Network to Model Pandemic Flu
Feb. 1 — Four new scientific teams join a research network developing computer-based simulations of pandemic flu. More >>

World Health Organization issues draft protocol
Jan. 27 — WHO releases draft protocol for rapid response and containment More >>

Kentucky State Summit
Jan. 20 — Governor Ernie Fletcher and HHS Deputy Secretary Alex Azar speak before a wide range of community and business leaders on pandemic planning. More >>

United States Pledges $334 Million to Global Efforts Against Avian Influenza
Jan. 18 — Ambassador Nancy Powell announces pledge at the International Pledging Conference in Beijing More >>

Two Million Courses of Tamiflu Donated for Use in Developing Countries
Jan. 17 — Donation makes possible regional storage More >>

United States Sends Avian Influenza Team to Turkey
Jan. 13 — Experts in animal and human health surveillance, laboratory capacity, and public health communications from several federal agencies are sent to Turkey
U.S. Department of State Press Release >>
U.S. Department of Agriculture Press Release >>

Georgia State Summit
Jan. 13 — Governor Sonny Perdue and HHS Secretary Leavitt address public health officials, business and community leaders about pandemic flu preparedness. More >>

Rhode Island State Summit
Jan. 13 — Meeting in Providence, state and local officials, along with HHS Secretary Leavitt, hold the fifth state planning summit More >>

$100 Million for State and Local Pandemic Preparation
Jan. 12 — Pandemic preparedness grants are awarded to states, territories, and the District of Columbia. More >>

Planning for Faith-Based and Community Organizations
Jan. 12 — HHS Secretary Leavitt releases a pandemic planning checklist for faith-based and community organizations Press release >>
Checklist for Faith-Based and Community Organizations >>

West Virginia State Summit
Jan. 12 — Governor Joe Manchin and other state officials host a conference of local and state officials and private sector partners, with HHS Secretary Leavitt speaking on pandemic planning. More >>

Vermont State Summit
Jan. 12 — The third state planning summit, hosted by Governor Jim Douglas, is held in Burlington. More >>

Planning Guide for Individuals and Families
Jan. 6 — Secretary Leavitt Releases Guide to Help Individuals and Families Get Informed and Be Prepared For a Pandemic. Press release >>
Guide for Individuals & Families >>

Arizona State Summit
Jan. 6 — HHS Secretary Leavitt and Governor Janet Napolitano hosted the Arizona State Pandemic Planning Summit, inviting a wide range of community and business leaders from across the state. More >>

Human Cases of H5N1 in Europe
Jan. 5 — HHS Secretary Leavitt's statement on the human cases of H5N1 discovered in Turkey. More >>