Flu.gov to answer some concerns

Are you or your patrons concerned about the flu and its many variations -- H1N1, Bird, or seasonal? Your one-stop access to critical and reputable information is the web site http://www.flu.gov/.

This site, managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has pulled together all the information from the White House, CDC, Homeland security, and the Department of Education, that you and your patrons need to answer any and all questions about the flu.

Whether it is a parents asking, a business person, or a caregiver, there are sections here for everyone, from flu symptoms to guidelines for small businesses, of what to do for the flu and in a pandemic.

Links to the state and local information are also available, such as the State’s Pandemic Plan. (MA: http://www.flu.gov/professional/states/massachusetts.html )
The only organization missing from this site is libraries and the specifics as to what libraries could do. However, guidelines as to what libraries across the commonwealth need to do, and prepare in case of a pandemic, are usually part of each community’s planning preparedness.

With webcasts, blogs, and all the 2.0 connections, you will be able to give your patrons this important health information whichever way they would like it.

The site is also available in Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Addendum: if you would like to get materials to distribute to your patrons, go to Protecting, Preparing, and Caring - for Yourself and Others . There you’ll find order forms. You can also download and print many of the other fact sheets. Note the variety of languages available.