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Learning Activity: Bird flu facts

SPECIAL REPORT

• Bird flu: What you need to know

• Interactive: What is influenza?

• Health Library

• Latest news on bird flu

• Special report

CNN STUDENT NEWS

(CNN Student News) -- Your students will learn about bird flu and why officials are concerned about the possible emergence of a flu pandemic. Your students will also learn about the measures that are being taken by their state's Department of Health to prevent the spread of cold and flu and a possible outbreak of influenza.

Procedure

Direct student groups to the resources provided to learn about the origin, symptoms, transmission and status of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza (bird flu). Pose the following questions to guide students' research:

What is avian flu?

How is it transmitted?

How can people become infected?

Which countries have been affected by bird flu outbreaks in poultry?

In which countries have human cases of the H5N1 virus occurred?

What is the difference between a flu epidemic and a flu pandemic?

Why is the H5N1 strain of avian influenza of great concern to some health officials?

What drugs are available for treatment?

What is the status of vaccine development and production concerning the H5N1 virus?

Have groups share their findings with the class. After the discussion, instruct students to contact the Department of Health in their state to learn about the measures that the agency is taking to prevent the spread of colds and influenza. Have them find out whether it has an established plan to deal with a possible outbreak of influenza. If the Department of Health does have an influenza preparedness plan, have students identify its different components, such as:

the specific public health issues addressed,

the participating government agencies and the extent of their involvement,

how communication among these agencies, and between the government and the public, would occur in the event of a crisis.

After groups share their research, ask students to imagine that they are in charge of their state's Department of Health, and pose the following question for class discussion: Based on what you know about the current status of avian flu and the available resources in your state, what plans might you put in place to prevent the spread of avian flu or to deal with a possible outbreak?

Correlated Standards

Health

Standard 1: Knows the availability and effective use of health services, products, and information

Level III (Grade 6-8)

Benchmark 2. Knows how to locate and use community health information, products, and services that provide valid health information

Standard 8: Knows essential concepts about the prevention and control of disease

Level III (Grade 6-8)

Benchmark 1. Understands how lifestyle, pathogens, family history, and other risk factors are related to the cause or prevention of disease and other health problems

Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/), 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 500, Aurora, CO 80014; Telephone: 303/337-0990

Keywords

avian flu, outbreak, pandemic, preparedness plan, Department of Health

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CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.