As co-hosts of a recent half-day symposium entitled "Avian Influenza:  Political, Social and Economic Dimensions of the Continuing Threat from Emerging Infectious Diseases," George Washington University, Medical Center (GWUMC) and International Resources Group turned their attention to understanding preparations required to assess and mitigate possible socio-economic, political and environmental impacts of a potential avian flu pandemic. The Symposium focused on such pressing development issues as:

• The magnitude of the threat posed by emerging infectious diseases, particularly from the current crisis of avian influenza H5N1;
• Emergency response planning to mitigate the social and economic impacts of potential infectious pandemics;
• The need for increased capacity building to control the current crisis as well as guard against future outbreaks;
• Mechanisms for interagency coordination to maintain a high level of communication and enhance resource utilization; and
• Strategies for containment to curtail the spread of emerging infectious agents.

Panel discussions featured a number of recognized experts in their fields, including: 

Asif Shaikh, President and CEO, International Resources Group

Tee Guidotti, MD, MPH, Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, GWUMC

James W. Adams, Vice President and Head of Network for Operations Policy and Country Services, The World Bank

Bruce Gellin, MD, Director of the National Vaccine Program Office, DHHS

Faye Bresler, MD, MPH, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Environmental Occupational Health, GWU

John Ragan, DVM, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, FDA

David F. Goldsmith, PhD, MSPH, School of Public Health and Health Services, GWUMC

Dennis Carroll, Senior Infectious Disease Coordinator, Bureau of Global Health, USAID

Milan Brahmbhatt, Lead Economist for East Asia and the Pacific, World Bank

Victor Barbiero, PhD, Chief of Implementation Support Division, Office of HIV/AIDS, USAID

View the summary newsletter of the Avian Influenza Symposium.