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Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 3

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 3 written by Christophe Wiart and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-12-06 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics provides an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the phylogeny, botany, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of more than 100 plants used in the traditional systems of Asia and Pacific medicine for the treatment of microbial infections. It discusses their actions and potentials against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that represent a threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases, with an emphasis on the molecular basis and cellular pathways. This book presents for each plant the scientific name, the botanical classification, traditional medicinal uses, active chemical constituents, and pharmacology. This volume is a critical reference for anyone involved in the discovery of leads for the development of lead molecules or phytopharmaceutical products for the prevention or treatment of pandemic viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. FEATURES Includes phylogenetic presentation of medicinal plants and a chemotaxonomical rationale of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal actions Discusses chemical structure–activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, and oral bioavailability of antimicrobial principles Introduces the molecular mechanism of natural products on viruses, bacteria, and fungi Contains a selection of botanical plates and useful bibliographic references This book is a useful research tool for postgraduates, academics, and the pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutrition industries. Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics includes commentary sections that invite further research and reflection on the fascinating and timely subject of the development of leads or herbals from Asia-Pacific medicinal plants to safeguard humanity against the forthcoming waves of viral, bacterial, or fungal pandemics. This book is an ideal reference text for medicinal plant enthusiasts.

Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 4

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 4 written by Christophe Wiart and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2022-05-11 with total page 414 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Viruses and plagues have constantly threatened the survival of humanity since the evolution of modern man. Medical advances, thanks to the application of remedial plants, have helped to fight back against some of the most nefarious bacterial and viral infections, giving humanity a fighting chance. This fourth volume in the Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics series provides an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the pharmacological activity of more than 100 medicinal plants used for the treatment of microbial infections in Asia and the Pacific. The text discusses the actions of such plants against viruses and bacteria representing a threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases, including COVID-19, with an emphasis on the molecular basis and cellular pathways. Scientific names, botanical classifications and descriptions, medicinal uses, and chemical constituents are presented, along with chemical structures and a vast selection of bibliographical references. FEATURES Introduces the molecular mechanism of natural products from medicinal plants in Asia on bacteria and viruses Includes phylogenetic presentations of a selection of medicinal plants and a chemotaxonomical rationale of antiviral and antibacterial actions Discusses the chemical structure–activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability of antimicrobial principles This book is a useful research tool for postgraduates, academics, and the pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutrition industries looking forward to developing antiviral and antibacterial agents from medicinal plants in Asia. Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics is a critical reference for anyone involved in the discovery of leads for the treatment of pandemic viral, bacterial, and infections. "This book will be an important resource for scientists, as well as people passionate about helping to save these critical resources. Perhaps a new drug lead will be identified from at least one of these plants." —From the Foreword by Dr. Mark S. Butler, MSBChem Consulting, Brisbane, Australia

Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 1

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 1 written by Christophe Wiart and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-06-30 with total page 423 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics provides an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the phylogeny, botany, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of more than 100 plants used in the traditional medical systems of Asia and Pacific. It discusses their actions and potentials against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that represent a threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases, with an emphasis on the molecular basis and cellular pathways. This book presents scientific names, the botanical classification, traditional medicinal uses, active chemical constituents, and pharmacology. This volume is a critical reference for anyone involved in the discovery of lead molecules or phytopharmaceutical products for the prevention or treatment of pandemic viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. FEATURES Phylogenetic presentation of medicinal plants and a chemotaxonomical rationale of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal actions Discusses the chemical structure–activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, and oral bioavailability of antimicrobial principles Introduces the molecular mechanism of natural products on viruses, bacteria, and fungi Contains a selection of botanical plates and useful bibliographic references This book is a useful research tool for postgraduates, academics, and the pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutrition industries. Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics includes commentary sections that invite further research and reflection on the fascinating and timely subject of the development of drugs and herbals from Asia-Pacific medicinal plants to safeguard humanity and other life forms against the forthcoming waves of viral, bacterial, or fungal pandemics. This book is an ideal reference text for medicinal plant enthusiasts.

Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 2

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 2 written by Christophe Wiart and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics provides an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the botany, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of more than 100 plants used in the traditional medical systems of Asia and Pacific medicine for the treatment of microbial infections. It discusses their actions and potentials against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that represent a threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases, with an emphasis on the molecular basis and cellular pathways. This book presents for each plant the botanical classification, synonyms, scientific names, local names, habitat, distribution, botanical description, traditional medicinal uses, antimicrobial activities, active antimicrobial principles, and commentaries. This volume is a critical reference for anyone involved in the development of lead molecules or phytopharmaceutical products for the prevention or treatment of pandemic viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. FEATURES Includes phylogenetic presentations of medicinal plants and a chemotaxonomical rationale of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal actions Discusses the chemical structure–activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, and oral bioavailability of antimicrobial principles Introduces the molecular mechanism of natural products on viruses, bacteria, and fungi Contains a selection of handmade botanical plates and useful bibliographic references This book is a useful research tool for postgraduates, academics, and the pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutrition industries. Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics includes commentary sections that invite further research and reflection on the fascinating and timely subject of the development of leads or herbals from Asia-Pacific medicinal plants to safeguard humanity against COVID-19 and the forthcoming waves of viral, bacterial, or fungal pandemics. This book is an ideal reference text for medicinal plant enthusiasts.

Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 3

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 3 written by Christophe Wiart and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-12-06 with total page 429 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics provides an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the phylogeny, botany, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of more than 100 plants used in the traditional systems of Asia and Pacific medicine for the treatment of microbial infections. It discusses their actions and potentials against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that represent a threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases, with an emphasis on the molecular basis and cellular pathways. This book presents for each plant the scientific name, the botanical classification, traditional medicinal uses, active chemical constituents, and pharmacology. This volume is a critical reference for anyone involved in the discovery of leads for the development of lead molecules or phytopharmaceutical products for the prevention or treatment of pandemic viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. FEATURES Includes phylogenetic presentation of medicinal plants and a chemotaxonomical rationale of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal actions Discusses chemical structure–activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, and oral bioavailability of antimicrobial principles Introduces the molecular mechanism of natural products on viruses, bacteria, and fungi Contains a selection of botanical plates and useful bibliographic references This book is a useful research tool for postgraduates, academics, and the pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutrition industries. Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics includes commentary sections that invite further research and reflection on the fascinating and timely subject of the development of leads or herbals from Asia-Pacific medicinal plants to safeguard humanity against the forthcoming waves of viral, bacterial, or fungal pandemics. This book is an ideal reference text for medicinal plant enthusiasts.

Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 3

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 3 written by CHRISTOPHE. WIART and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-11-16 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents commentary sections that invite reflection on the fascinating and timely subject of the development of leads or herbals from Asia-Pacific medicinal plants to safeguard humanity and other life forms against the forthcoming waves of viral, bacterial, or fungal pandemics.

Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 1

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 1 written by Christophe Wiart and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-06-30 with total page 587 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics provides an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the phylogeny, botany, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of more than 100 plants used in the traditional medical systems of Asia and Pacific. It discusses their actions and potentials against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that represent a threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases, with an emphasis on the molecular basis and cellular pathways. This book presents scientific names, the botanical classification, traditional medicinal uses, active chemical constituents, and pharmacology. This volume is a critical reference for anyone involved in the discovery of lead molecules or phytopharmaceutical products for the prevention or treatment of pandemic viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. FEATURES Phylogenetic presentation of medicinal plants and a chemotaxonomical rationale of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal actions Discusses the chemical structure–activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, and oral bioavailability of antimicrobial principles Introduces the molecular mechanism of natural products on viruses, bacteria, and fungi Contains a selection of botanical plates and useful bibliographic references This book is a useful research tool for postgraduates, academics, and the pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutrition industries. Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics includes commentary sections that invite further research and reflection on the fascinating and timely subject of the development of drugs and herbals from Asia-Pacific medicinal plants to safeguard humanity and other life forms against the forthcoming waves of viral, bacterial, or fungal pandemics. This book is an ideal reference text for medicinal plant enthusiasts.

Book Sustaining Global Surveillance and Response to Emerging Zoonotic Diseases

Download or read book Sustaining Global Surveillance and Response to Emerging Zoonotic Diseases written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-01-24 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: H1N1 ("swine flu"), SARS, mad cow disease, and HIV/AIDS are a few examples of zoonotic diseases-diseases transmitted between humans and animals. Zoonotic diseases are a growing concern given multiple factors: their often novel and unpredictable nature, their ability to emerge anywhere and spread rapidly around the globe, and their major economic toll on several disparate industries. Infectious disease surveillance systems are used to detect this threat to human and animal health. By systematically collecting data on the occurrence of infectious diseases in humans and animals, investigators can track the spread of disease and provide an early warning to human and animal health officials, nationally and internationally, for follow-up and response. Unfortunately, and for many reasons, current disease surveillance has been ineffective or untimely in alerting officials to emerging zoonotic diseases. Sustaining Global Surveillance and Response to Emerging Zoonotic Diseases assesses some of the disease surveillance systems around the world, and recommends ways to improve early detection and response. The book presents solutions for improved coordination between human and animal health sectors, and among governments and international organizations. Parties seeking to improve the detection and response to zoonotic diseases-including U.S. government and international health policy makers, researchers, epidemiologists, human health clinicians, and veterinarians-can use this book to help curtail the threat zoonotic diseases pose to economies, societies, and health.

Book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics  Volume 2

Download or read book Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics Volume 2 written by Christophe Wiart and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 519 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics provides an unprecedented, comprehensive overview of the botany, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of more than 100 plants used in the traditional medical systems of Asia and Pacific medicine for the treatment of microbial infections. It discusses their actions and potentials against viruses, bacteria, and fungi that represent a threat of epidemic and pandemic diseases, with an emphasis on the molecular basis and cellular pathways. This book presents for each plant the botanical classification, synonyms, scientific names, local names, habitat, distribution, botanical description, traditional medicinal uses, antimicrobial activities, active antimicrobial principles, and commentaries. This volume is a critical reference for anyone involved in the development of lead molecules or phytopharmaceutical products for the prevention or treatment of pandemic viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. FEATURES Includes phylogenetic presentations of medicinal plants and a chemotaxonomical rationale of antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal actions Discusses the chemical structure–activity relationship, pharmacokinetics, and oral bioavailability of antimicrobial principles Introduces the molecular mechanism of natural products on viruses, bacteria, and fungi Contains a selection of handmade botanical plates and useful bibliographic references This book is a useful research tool for postgraduates, academics, and the pharmaceutical, herbal, and nutrition industries. Medicinal Plants in the Asia Pacific for Zoonotic Pandemics includes commentary sections that invite further research and reflection on the fascinating and timely subject of the development of leads or herbals from Asia-Pacific medicinal plants to safeguard humanity against COVID-19 and the forthcoming waves of viral, bacterial, or fungal pandemics. This book is an ideal reference text for medicinal plant enthusiasts.

Book How to Prevent the Next Pandemic

Download or read book How to Prevent the Next Pandemic written by Bill Gates and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2022-05-03 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Governments, businesses, and individuals around the world are thinking about what happens after the COVID-19 pandemic. Can we hope to not only ward off another COVID-like disaster but also eliminate all respiratory diseases, including the flu? Bill Gates, one of our greatest and most effective thinkers and activists, believes the answer is yes. The author of the #1 New York Times best seller How to Avoid a Climate Disaster lays out clearly and convincingly what the world should have learned from COVID-19 and what all of us can do to ward off another catastrophe like it. Relying on the shared knowledge of the world’s foremost experts and on his own experience of combating fatal diseases through the Gates Foundation, Gates first helps us understand the science of infectious diseases. Then he shows us how the nations of the world, working in conjunction with one another and with the private sector, how we can prevent a new pandemic from killing millions of people and devastating the global economy. Here is a clarion call—strong, comprehensive, and of the gravest importance.

Book Rickettsial Diseases

    Book Details:
  • Author : Didier Raoult
  • Publisher : CRC Press
  • Release : 2007-04-26
  • ISBN : 142001997X
  • Pages : 400 pages

Download or read book Rickettsial Diseases written by Didier Raoult and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2007-04-26 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The only available reference to comprehensively discuss the common and unusual types of rickettsiosis in over twenty years, this book will offer the reader a full review on the bacteriology, transmission, and pathophysiology of these conditions. Written from experts in the field from Europe, USA, Africa, and Asia, specialists analyze specific patho

Book Pandemics

    Book Details:
  • Author : Peter C. Doherty
  • Publisher : Oxford University Press
  • Release : 2013-07-31
  • ISBN : 0199898111
  • Pages : 268 pages

Download or read book Pandemics written by Peter C. Doherty and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013-07-31 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pandemics. The word conjures up images of horrific diseases sweeping the globe and killing everyone in their path. But such highly lethal illnesses almost never create pandemics. The reality is deadly serious but far more subtle. In Pandemics: What Everyone Needs to Know®, Peter Doherty, who won the Nobel Prize for his work on how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells, offers an essential guide to one of the truly life-or-death issues of our age. In concise, question-and-answer format, he explains the causes of pandemics, how they can be counteracted with vaccines and drugs, and how we can better prepare for them in the future. Doherty notes that the term "pandemic" refers not to a disease's severity but to its ability to spread rapidly over a wide geographical area. Extremely lethal pathogens are usually quickly identified and confined. Nevertheless, the rise of high-speed transportation networks and the globalization of trade and travel have radically accelerated the spread of diseases. A traveler from Africa arrived in New York in 1999 carrying the West Nile virus; one mosquito bite later, it was loose in the ecosystem. Doherty explains how the main threat of a pandemic comes from respiratory viruses, such as influenza and SARS, which disseminate with incredible speed through air travel. The climate disruptions of global warming, rising population density, and growing antibiotic resistance all complicate efforts to control pandemics. But Doherty stresses that pandemics can be fought effectively. Often simple health practices, especially in hospitals, can help enormously. And research into the animal reservoirs of pathogens, from SARS in bats to HIV in chimpanzees, show promise for our prevention efforts. Calm, clear, and authoritative, Peter Doherty's Pandemics is one of the most critically important additions to the What Everyone Needs to Know® series. What Everyone Needs to Know® is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press.

Book Taking a Multisectoral One Health Approach   A Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries

Download or read book Taking a Multisectoral One Health Approach A Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2019-03-11 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 2018 FAO-OIE-WHO (Tripartite) zoonoses guide, “Taking A Multisectoral, One Health Approach: A Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries” (2018 TZG) is being jointly developed to provide member countries with practical guidance on OH approaches to build national mechanisms for multisectoral coordination, communication, and collaboration to address zoonotic disease threats at the animal-human-environment interface. The 2018 TZG updates and expands on the guidance in the one previous jointly-developed, zoonoses-specific guidance document: the 2008 Tripartite “Zoonotic Diseases: A Guide to Establishing Collaboration between Animal and Human Health Sectors at the Country Level”, developed in WHO South-East Asia Region and Western Pacific Region. The 2018 TZG supports building by countries of the resilience and capacity to address emerging and endemic zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza, rabies, Ebola, and Rift Valley fever, as well as food-borne diseases and antimicrobial resistance, and to minimize their impacts on health, livelihoods, and economies. It additionally supports country efforts to implement WHO International Health Regulations (2005) and OIE international standards, to address gaps identified through external and internal health system evaluations, and to achieve targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2018 TZG provides relevant country ministries and agencies with lessons learned and good practices identified from country-level experiences in taking OH approaches for preparedness, prevention, detection and response to zoonotic disease threats, and provides guidance on multisectoral communication, coordination, and collaboration. It informs on regional and country-level OH activities and relevant unisectoral and multisectoral tools available for countries to use.

Book One Health and Zoonoses

Download or read book One Health and Zoonoses written by John S. Mackenzie and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2019-08-19 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The One Health concept recognizes that the health of humans, animals, and their ecosystems are interconnected, and that a coordinated, collaborative, multidisciplinary, and cross-sectoral approach is necessary to fully understand and respond to potential or existing risks that originate at the animal–human–ecosystems interfaces. Thus, the One Health concept represents a holistic vision for addressing some of the complex challenges that threaten human and animal health, food safety, and the environments in which diseases flourish. There are many examples showing how the health of humans is related to the health of animals and the environment. Diseases shared between humans and animals are zoonoses. Some zoonoses have been known for many years, whereas others have emerged suddenly and unexpectedly. Over 70% of all new emerging diseases over the past few decades have been zoonoses that have emerged from wildlife, most often from bats, rodents, or birds. Examples of zoonoses are many and varied, ranging from rabies to bovine tuberculosis, and from Japanese encephalitis to SARS. Clearly, a One Health approach is essential for understanding their ecology, and for outbreak response and the development of control strategies. However, the One Health concept and approach is much broader than zoonoses; it extends to including antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and environmental health and, consequently, impacts on global health security, economic wellbeing, and international trade. It is this breadth of One Health that connects the papers in this Special Issue.

Book Zoonoses and communicable diseases common to man and animals

Download or read book Zoonoses and communicable diseases common to man and animals written by Pedro N. Acha and published by . This book was released on 2003-12-12 with total page 1194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 3 vols also available separately. Contents: Vol. 1 Bacterioses and mycoses (2001, ISBN 927511580X); Vol. 2 Chlamydioses, rickettsioses and viroses (2003, ISBN 927519929); Vol. 3 Parasitoses (2003, ISBN 9275919928)

Book Research Priorities for Zoonoses and Marginalized Infections

Download or read book Research Priorities for Zoonoses and Marginalized Infections written by TDR Disease Reference Group on Zoonoses and Marginalized Infectious Diseases of Poverty and published by WHO Technical Report. This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report provides a review and analysis of the research landscape for zoonoses and marginalized infections which affect poor populations, and a list of research priorities to support disease control. The work is the output of the disease reference group on zoonoses and marginalized infectious diseases (DRG6), which is part of an independent think tank of international experts, established and funded by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), to identify key research priorities through the review of research evidence and input from stakeholder consultations. The report covers a diverse range of diseases including zoonotic helminth protozoa, viral and bacterial infections considered to be neglected and associated with poverty. Disease-specific research issues were elaborated under individual disease sections and many common priorities were readily identified among the disease such as need for new and/or improved drugs and regimens, diagnostics and, where appropriate, vaccines. The disease specific priorities are described as micro priorities compared with the macro level priorities which will drive such policies as the need for improved surveillance; the need for inter-sectoral interaction between health, livestock, agriculture, natural resources and wildlife in tackling the zoonotic diseases; and the need for a true assessment of the burden of the zoonoses. This is one of ten disease and thematic reference group reports that have come out of the TDR Think Tank, all of which have contributed to the development of the Global Report for Research on Infectious Diseases of Poverty.

Book The Threat of Pandemic Influenza

Download or read book The Threat of Pandemic Influenza written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2005-04-09 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Public health officials and organizations around the world remain on high alert because of increasing concerns about the prospect of an influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable. Moreover, recent problems with the availability and strain-specificity of vaccine for annual flu epidemics in some countries and the rise of pandemic strains of avian flu in disparate geographic regions have alarmed experts about the world's ability to prevent or contain a human pandemic. The workshop summary, The Threat of Pandemic Influenza: Are We Ready? addresses these urgent concerns. The report describes what steps the United States and other countries have taken thus far to prepare for the next outbreak of "killer flu." It also looks at gaps in readiness, including hospitals' inability to absorb a surge of patients and many nations' incapacity to monitor and detect flu outbreaks. The report points to the need for international agreements to share flu vaccine and antiviral stockpiles to ensure that the 88 percent of nations that cannot manufacture or stockpile these products have access to them. It chronicles the toll of the H5N1 strain of avian flu currently circulating among poultry in many parts of Asia, which now accounts for the culling of millions of birds and the death of at least 50 persons. And it compares the costs of preparations with the costs of illness and death that could arise during an outbreak.