Media Advisory

The International Society for Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Diseases

Who:

The International Society for Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Diseases

WHAT:

Options for the Control of Influenza VI

WHEN:

June 17-23, 2007

WHERE:

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2W6, Canada

Options is the largest international conference exclusively devoted to influenza. The conference provides comprehensive scientific guidance for all disciplines involved in influenza prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment, including seasonal and pandemic planning. Topics addressed at Options range from basic science to healthcare policy. Influenza presents formidable challenges for global healthcare and research: Options VI provides a forum for the international collaboration that is essential to the timely detection and control of new influenza strains. More than 1200 registrants from 49 countries are registered for Options VI, more than double the attendance at Options V.

Conference Highlights:

• Daily press briefings by prominent global influenza researchers at 12 pm. Open to all registered media attending the conference, with telephone hookups provided for offsite media.
• Presentations will include keynote addresses, state-of-the-art lectures, invited lectures, scientific workshops, oral abstract presentations, satellite symposia, and poster sessions.
• Keynote address by Dr. David L. Heymann, Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases and Representative of the Director-General for Polio Eradication, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
• Translational session on "The Art of Messaging: Communicating Science to the Public," 8:30-9:30 am on Monday, June 18.
• Conference program and registration information can be found at http://www.optionsviconference.com

About Options for the Control of Influenza The Options conference is held every 3 to 4 years. Prior meeting locations and dates include Options I in Keystone, Colorado (1985), Options II in Courchevel, France (1992), Options III in Cairns, Australia (1996), Options IV in Crete, Greece (2000), and Options V in Okinawa, Japan (2003). Preliminary planning has already begun for Options VII, to be held in the Southern Hemisphere in 2010.

Key partners in the development of Options VI include The World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Foundation, the Ontario Ministry of Health, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the European Scientific Working group on Influenza (ESWI).

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES