Emergency Response to Avian Influenza (AI) Outbreaks

This manual, developed by the Academy for Educational Development (AED) for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for use in Bangladesh, intends to provide Upazilla Officers (local-level officials) with the knowledge, tools, and skills necessary to protect their families and communities from avian flu (bird flu).

From the introduction:
"Capacity for prevention and control at the local level is vital as local officers offer the first line of defense against an epidemic. Upazilla Officers are in a unique and important position to educate co-workers, community members, friends, and families about how avian influenza can be prevented. This manual offers guidelines in the form of six steps organized into the Job Cycle that includes risk reduction, data collection, and appropriate outbreak response strategies. These six steps include:

1. Preventing and Controlling Avian Influenza
2. Watching, Taking Notes, and Reporting Findings
3. Collecting Samples for Testing
4. Sending Samples to Laboratories and Receiving Results
5. Taking Action during an Outbreak
6. Taking Action after an Outbreak"

This illustrated manual shows diagrammatically both the AI pandemic effects and the job cycle of Upazilla Officers. It poses questions to consider and gives brief answers. Each of the steps is documented with an illustrated group of considerations and actions with a checklist review. Please contact the Avian Influenza Coordinator, Academy for Educational Development, through the email address below for this manual.