"... an amazing resource ... Dr. Ryan has assembled some of the best experts in the field to guide you in understanding the threat of pandemic influenza and how it can affect you and the people you are responsible for. ..." From the foreword by Lynn A. Slepski, Captain, United States Public Health Service No one is immune to the potential devastation of a mass pandemic influenza outbreak. Yet despite recent small-scale outbreaks and dire warnings from the World Health Organization that such an event is imminent and overdue, our preparedness continues to lag. Part of the problem is that while a national plan is important, all the real action must occur at the local level. Triage, care, and containment, along with maintenance of the infrastructure, are functions that must be carried out by local planners and responders. Pandemic Influenza: Emergency Planning and Community Preparedness introduces readers to the critical global and domestic issues regarding a potential pandemic. Featuring the contributions of leading experts, this volume arms planners and responders with an understanding of outbreak containment and response planning and provides an analysis of our present capabilities and potential weaknesses. The first section reviews the history of pandemics and discusses the deadly 1918 Spanish flu. The middle chapters examine the biology of the virus and the clinical aspects of influenza, with special attention given to Avian Influenza. The final chapters examine international and federal programs and discuss response at the local level, including service continuation planning and fatality management. Public health and emergency preparedness professionals, as well as policy makers at all levels will find a wealth of information to help them create a plan and allocate the proper resources to mitigate the devastation of a pandemic influenza.