Consulate General and Ministry of Health Host Information Session on the Prevention and Treatment of the H1N1 Virus

January 6, 2010

Jerusalem: The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem sponsored a digital video conference on the H1N1 virus with Daniel Rutz, Associate Director of Communication Science for the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, January 6. Director General of Primary Care and Public Health of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr. Asad Ramlawi, moderated the discussion with Palestinian health practitioners from various PA ministries as well as representatives from other local and international agencies and members of the Palestinian press corps.

The purpose of the information session was to raise public awareness of the efforts being made by the U.S. and Palestinian Governments to combat the spread of the H1N1 virus and to discuss best practices for the prevention and treatment of H1N1 and to encourage cooperation among participants to ensure that Palestinian children and their families have accurate information about the virus.

Drawing on his nearly 30 years of work in the field of health and medical communications including assisting with the development of the U.S. Government and WHO pandemic influenza response plans, Mr. Rutz shared the experience of the CDC and the U.S. Government in responding to the H1N1 pandemic, including: best practices for prevention and treatment of H1N1, public information campaigns, and how U.S. public health authorities at all levels of government collaborate to combat the virus. Mr. Rutz affirmed the safety of the H1N1 vaccine and refuted rumors about the origins of the virus. For more information regarding the H1N1 virus and other flu viruses, visit: http://www.flu.gov.

The U.S. Consulate General engages with local audiences throughout the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza with a variety of public information programs every year to promote mutual understanding and to address issues, such as the H1N1 virus, that impact the lives of Palestinians and Americans.

The CDC works with partners throughout the United States and the world to: monitor health, detect and investigate health problems, conduct research to enhance prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, implement prevention strategies, promote healthy behaviors, foster safe and healthful environments, provide leadership and training. For more information about the CDC, visit http://www.cdc.gov/.

For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate's Press Office at 02-622-6908 or 02-622-6909 or Information Officer Arlissa Reynolds at 054-662-0236.