Tracking, Talking Bird Flu Crucial

As avian flu outbreaks occur in Turkey and possibly travel beyond, effective global Newswise — networks of medical professionals with capabilities to track, monitor and communicate about emerging infections will be essential. GeoSentinel, an established network of International Society of Travel Medicine clinics, has been doing exactly that since 1996. "Using experience gained during the 2003 SARS outbreaks, GeoSentinel has been gearing up with new sites in Asia to prepare for avian influenza, and will continue to monitor disease trends and identify emerging infections," said David O. Freedman, M.D., director of the UAB Travel Clinic and co-founder of GeoSentinel. Freedman and colleagues published 10 years' worth of GeoSentinel data on trends relating travel destinations and disease in the Jan. 12 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.