AI.COMM - Avian and Pandemic Influenza Resource Link

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Making matters more complicated was the fact that that we
were fi ghting a virus that was still undergoing epidemiologic
investigation and exploration. This placed technical
assistance in communication, training, and response at a
considerable disadvantage. What do we want people to do – or
not do – when we are not sure how the virus is transmitted and
who is most at risk? Overlaying H5N1 onto a public health/
infectious disease framework, however, allowed AI.COMM to
develop initial research, behavior change and communication
plans. As more epidemiologic data became available, the key
behaviors initially promoted by AI.COMM – good hygiene and
sanitation practices, separation and isolation (of animals), and
reporting (of sick or dead birds) – were appropriate for the
H5N1 virus and just needed to be fi ne-tuned, not overhauled.
These maxims have since carried over to messages related to
the H1N1 pandemic infl uenza virus.