A presentation to media and communications stakeholders will take place June 9, 2005 at the Owen Sound library auditorium.   The goal of this session is to explore the roles and responsibilities of the media, other communications stakeholders, and Public Health in order to ensure readiness in the event of a pandemic of influenza.

Topics to be discussed include the following:

History of pandemics

Description of an influenza pandemic

Update on avian flu activities undertaken by the World Health Organization

Update on Public Health’s plan (internal & external)

How we can work together

Ideas about how their organizations can prepare

Results of a survey of pandemic influenza attitudes and awareness among Canadians

What the public needs to know during a pandemic