Employees, students urged to attend bird flu forums

Employees forums on avian influenza Tuesday, Nov. 7 Noon to 1 p.m. Durham Research Center Auditorium Thursday, Nov. 9 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. UNMC College of Nursing Cooper Auditorium Monday, Nov. 13 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Storz Pavilion Room 1 and 2 Tuesday, Nov. 14 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eppley Science Hall Amphitheater Wednesday, Nov. 15 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Storz Pavilion, rooms 1 and 2 NOTE: Nightshift employees should attend late night or early morning forums.

Plan now to attend one of five forums on avian influenza, also referred to as “avian flu” and “bird flu.” Presentations will include what is avian flu, how it spreads, the difference between avian and pandemic flu, how Americans could be affected, the status of the disease around the world, and steps you and your family can take to be prepared at home.

Forums will be presented by Sharon Medcalf of the Nebraska Center for Biopreparedness Education, or Steven Hinrichs, M.D., director of the UNMC Nebraska Center for Biosecurity and UNMC professor of pathology and microbiology. Light refreshments will be served at each forum.

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the forum also will be available live on the Web at www.unmc.edu/avianflu. A 16-week Household Stockpiling Tool — which can help in home preparations for a pandemic — will be available online.