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Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Individual State Plans
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Immunization Action Coalition
In recent years, a small number of people living in Asia have contracted a strain of the flu virus which normally affects birds. It appears that the illness was passed through contact with infected birds, not through human-to-human contact. Nevertheless, this strain of flu seems to be especially potent, with a high rate of death among those who have contracted the illness.
There is concern that this strain of avian flu, if its mode of transmission changes to human-to-human contact, could lead to a worldwide outbreak, also known as a pandemic. Currently, humans cannot contract the illness from contact with one another. But, health officials are preparing for an eventual flu pandemic, whether it is caused by this particular strain of the flu virus or some other.
Below are links to websites that have a wealth of information on the avian flu and what is being done to prepare for a potential pandemic.
Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA recently released Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, which addresses what employers can do to protect employees, plan for workforce depletion, and maintain operations during a pandemic. This guide also provides links to other helpful resources. *NEW*
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PandemicFlu.gov
Visit the official U.S. government website for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza. A number of helpful checklists can be obtained from this site, including...
Medical Offices and Clinics Checklist
Review the specific steps that your dialysis unit can take to prepare for a pandemic.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
A resource guide on Medicare immunization billing can be found on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Medicare Learning Network website.
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State Plans
Links to individual state plans for pandemic influenza.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Get information on the National Vaccine Program Office's FluAid software.
The Pandemic Influenza Toolkit assists healthcare professionals in discussing pandemic flu with patients and caring for them in the event that the virus spreads.
Sign up to receive email updates from the CDC! Complete a subscription profile, and you will get updated information on the items of interest to you, including influenza and avian flu.
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World Health Organization
Review WHO's Interim Infection Control Guideline for Health Care Facilities.
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Immunization Action Coalition
The IAC has developed an Influenza Vaccination Pocket Information Guide, a quick-reference tool for front-line healthcare personnel which contains useful information about the use of both inactivated (injectable) and live (intranasal) influenza vaccines. They have also produced a Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination (PPV) Pocket Guide, which lists the groups targeted to receive the vaccine, as well as vaccine contraindications, dosing, administration methods, and side effects.
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