Selected Topics - Respiratory Health

Events

• School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW - Upcoming Events

Global policies and related documents

Reports, guidelines and projects

• Health Canada Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  Health Canada's SARS page provides information for both a general audience and for health professionals. The site aims to facilitate a consistent approach towards the prevention and control of severe respiratory infections. The documents provided are intended to help health professionals to detect, diagnose, report and manage cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or other cases of Severe Respiratory Illnesses (SRI) of unknown etiology.
• Lung Information
  The information on this site is provided by the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. It includes links to fact sheets and other publications, information for schools and child care centers about asthma, COPD/Emphysma, and other lung diseases and information aimed at health professionals detailing strategies for diagnosis and management of lung disease.
• MedlinePlus - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  Medline Plus' SARS page brings together authoritative information from National Library of Medice, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other U.S. government agencies and health-related organizations. It includes the latest SARS news, information on SARS research, diagnosis and treatment, prevention and screening as well as links to related organizations.
• National Asthma Council, Australia
  The National Asthma Council, Australia (NAC) is a non-profit body which serves the community by creating awareness and providing information about asthma. (Texas), practical information on all types of allergies.
• Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Places in Guatemala: Comparison with other Latin American Countries
  Objective: To measure secondhand smoke levels in workplaces in Guatemala and to compare exposure to levels in other Latin American cities. Methods: Exposure was estimated by passive sampling of vapor phase nicotine using a filter badge. Filters were placed in 1 hospital, 1 school, 2 universities, 1 government building, the airport, and 10 restaurants/bars. In total, 103 filters were deployed (plus 7 duplicates and 10 blanks). Nicotine (Mg/m³) was measured by gas chromatography. Medians [interquartile ranges (IQR)] of nicotine concentrations were reported and compared with other Latin American cities. A survey about attitudes for smoke-free workplaces was distributed among employees. Results: Nicotine was detected in most (68%) locations surveyed (including workplaces where smoking is banned). The highest levels were found in bars [median, 4.58 Mg/m³ (IQR, 1.71-6.44)] and restaurants [median, 0.56 Mg/m³ (IQR, 0.46-0.71)]. Nicotine concentrations in bars and restaurants were 710 and 114 times higher, respectively, compared with hospital concentrations after adjustment for smoking ban signs, type of ventilation, and volume of the area. Support for smoke-free environments was high, except in bar/restaurant and airport workers. Airborne nicotine levels in Guatemala were similar to those found in other Latin American cities. Conclusion: In Guatemala, exposure to secondhand smoke is highly prevalent. Workers in bars and restaurants are disproportionately exposed to secondhand smoke compared with other workers. There is an urgent need for complete smoke-free legislation and for educating workers about the benefits of smoke-free workplaces. [Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2007; 16(12): 2730–2735]
• WHO Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  This is WHO's SARS information page. Since SARS was recognised at the end of 2003, WHO has coordinated the international investigation with the assistance of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and is working closely with health authorities in the affected countries to provide epidemiological, clinical and logistical support as required.

Educational resources

• Asthma Helpline
  This is a complete Patient education website containing every bit of information about asthma. Site has special forms so that patients can find out about their asthma control, triggers and much more. Site also contains Blog, chat room, FAQs etc.

Organisations and Networks

UN and multinational

• WHO Global Tuberculosis Program
  This site which is hosted by WHO outlines the work of the Stop TB Department, which was established to realize the goal of eliminating TB as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of TB.

Government

• CDC-Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (USA)
  The aim of the Centers for Disease Control, Division of TB is to develop and advocate effective and appropriate TB prevention and control policies; Support a nationwide framework for monitoring TB morbidity and mortality; Detect and investigate TB outbreaks; Conducts clinical, epidemiological, behavioral, and operational research to enhance TB prevention and control efforts; Evaluate prevention effectiveness; and Provide funding and technical assistance to state and local health departments.
• CDC Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  This site offers basic information about SARS as well as information for specific groups and settings, including those in clinical and health care setting, health departments, laboratories, the legal community, patients and their close contacts, schools and workplaces and information for travellers

Non Government

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation (USA)
  The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America provides education, advocacy, research, publications and support groups for asthma and allergy sufferers throughout the USA.
• Australian Lung Foundation
  The Australian Lung Foundation (ALF) is a not-for-profit Public Benevolent Institution with Medical and Support Group representation in every state and territory in Australia. The organisation's vision is to be a key agent of change in Australia bringing about the understanding, management and relief of lung disease.
• National Jewish Medical and Research Center, USA
  The National Jewish Medical and Research Center is known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, immune and allergic disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonsectarian, nonprofit hospital for tuberculosis (TB) patients, National Jewish remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders.

Academic Institutions with particular focus in this area

Key Conferences, conference and workshop reports

Coming conferences

Conference reports

Journals, Newsletters, Forums

Bibliographies, Libraries

Public health bookshops

• Public Health bookshop