To date, there have been no reported cases of avian influenza – or “bird flu” – in humans in the United States, but the possibility of such an outbreak remains and continues to be the subject of many reports in the news media. This web site, which will be updated periodically or when events warrant, is intended to direct members of the Bowdoin community to the latest information about avian influenza, and to provide information about ongoing preparedness efforts at the College.
Bowdoin College has a detailed response plan in place to manage the anticipated issues associated with a local outbreak of epidemic disease, including avian influenza. This planning conforms with the most recent recommendations of the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the international World Health Organization (WHO), and is coordinated with parallel efforts by local, county, and state health and emergency response agencies. The key components of the plan include:
As with all communicable diseases, good hygiene and avoidance of risk are the best preventative measures.
Please contact Health Services at x3770 with questions specific to the campus community.
In addition, the following links provide the most detailed and up-to-date public information:
Maine
www.maineflu.gov
www.mainebirdflu.org
National
www.pandemicflu.gov
www.cdc.gov/flu/avian
International
www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza
www.fluwikie.com