He has been appointed Editor of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, which is being launched by Blackwell Publishing amid growing international concerns about the possibility of an influenza pandemic.

"Alan Hampson is an ideal choice, as he is a WHO Expert Advisor on influenza and was, until recently, Deputy Director and operational head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne, Australia" says Ren Olivieri, CEO of Blackwell Publishing.

"He is also an influenza advisor to the Australian Government, a Member of the Australian National Influenza Pandemic Action Committee and Convenor of the Australian Influenza Specialist Group."

The development of influenza vaccines, how viruses are evolving and the scale of the global problem will be just three of the subject areas tackled by the first issue when it debuts in October 2006.

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses will also cover a range of other respiratory viruses, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (commonly known as SARS), Respiratory Syncytial Virus and parainfluenza viruses.

The journal is being published on behalf of the UK-based International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Diseases (ISIRV), which was established in September 2005.

"There is considerable concern among experts working in the fields of influenza and respiratory medicine that there is an urgent need for international collaboration on research and development" says Alan Hampson.

"The development of avian flu and conditions like SARS have given added impetus to the very real concern about the potential risk of an influenza pandemic

"Influenza and Other Respiratory Viru
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Contact: Annette Whibley
wordwizard@clara.co.uk
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
1-Jun-2006