Humanitarian Resource Institute
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2002 AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN OUTBREAK REPORTING ON THE INTERNET

Stephen M Apatow, President, Director of Research and Development, Humanitarian Resource Institute (vitae) and founder of the media company, SMAMedia Communications has been honored to be one of three recipients of the 2002 ProMED-mail Award for Excellence in Outbreak Reporting on the Internet. According to the announcement:

"Apatow, SMAMedia Communications, Humanitarian Resource Institute, picked up the slack for us during the FMD epidemic. Through his humanitarian web site*, he covered government responses,  control protocols, and efficiency measures: all the nuts and bolts of  proper disease control that were inappropriate for ProMED-mail postings but are absolutely vital for effective control. Without his active help a most important dimension would have been missing. We used his links to keep veterinarians and others better informed as improvements were--or were not--put in place."

* Foot and Mouth Disease Reference Library: A collaborative initiative of international veterinary, medical and scientific experts to share information and enhance academic discussion of emerging infectious diseases and issues associated with preparedness,  response, mitigation and policy.

FELLOW RECIPIENTS OF THE 2002 AWARD

Pablo Nart

Pablo Nart, rapporteur extraordinaire, has contributed many reports since January 2001, of which we have posted 154 to date. Dr. Nart is a pathology resident in Veterinary Medicine at Glasgow University with research interest in virology. He received his MSc in International Animal Health from the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh.

Mike Meredith

Mike Meredith, Pig Disease Information Centre, UK, contributed daily updates throughout the UK foot-and-mouth epidemic, in spite of very severe financial problems. He provided regular informed comment as well as detailed news. Without him we would have been severely hampered in reporting this epidemic. See his website www.pighealth.com
 

ProMED-mail - a Program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases - is an Internet-based reporting system dedicated to rapid and global dissemination of information about outbreaks of infectious diseases that affect human health. A central purpose of ProMED-mail is to promote communication amongst the international infectious disease community, including scientists, physicians, epidemiologists, public health professionals, and others interested in infectious diseases on a global scale. ProMED-mail uses electronic communications to provide up-to-date and reliable news on disease outbreaks around the world, seven days a week and currently reaches about 24,000 subscribers in more than 155 countries.  Web services for ProMED-mail are provided as a public service by the Oracle Corporation. E-mail services are provided by the Harvard School of Public Health.

Updated 13 June 2003