Culture of Preparedness Needed to Face Avian Flu

Panelists at a Baker Institute forum advocated a dual approach of public
education and coordination of federal and local emergency services to counter
the avian flu virus until a vaccine is developed. From left are Eric Noji, M.D.,
senior policy advisor to the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention; Scott Lillibridge, M.D., director of the Center for Biosecurity and
Public Health Preparedness at The University of Texas School of Public Health;
and S.Ward Casscells, M.D., the John Edward Tyson Distinguished Professor in
Cardiology and vice president for biotechnology at the UT Health Science Center
at Houston. The December forum at Rice University focused on “Avian Influenza
and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): Global Challenges for Health
Diplomacy.”

Photo courtesy of Rice University