BAPS Charities joins CDC to fight Influenza

On December 19, 2007 the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BAPS Charities, the DHHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and the White House Homeland Security Council joined hands to present a live net-conference "Pandemic Influenza Planning Webinar". A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease at a global scale that characterizes vulnerability to the population. Pandemic influenza preparation has served a great importance to reducing the level of pandemic strength.

The 75-minute web-based seminar presented by CDC's infectious disease specialist Dr. Scott Santibanez and his team provided the most up-to-date information on pandemic influenza planning. Topics discussed in the presentation included preventative measures of social distancing and infection control strategies that would assist in reducing the risk of a severe pandemic. At the end of the webinar, BAPS Charities' leaders had a question and answer session with Dr. Santibanez on how BAPS community leaders can take action to educate and disseminate the respective information on influenza to the public.