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</td></tr> </tbody></table> Publicity campaign on birdflu about to start 15 March 2006 <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="5"><tbody><tr><td height="5"></td></tr></tbody></table>
A massive publicity campaign encouraging New Zealanders to prepare for a flu pandemic gets under way today.
The New Zealand Herald reported that a million-dollar publicity blitz would kick off with taxpayer-funded advertisements on television and radio.
The broadcast media campaign precedes a mail-drop to 1.4 million households around the country next week, advising people on hygiene and household planning.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread rapidly since the beginning of February, killing birds in at least 15 new countries as it spreads deeper into Europe and Africa.
It has killed or forced the slaughter of tens of millions of chickens and ducks across Asia and Europe since 2003, as health officials fear the virus could mutate into a strain that is easily transmitted between people.
That has not happened yet, but at least 97 people have died from the disease worldwide, according to World Health Organisation figures.
Fifteen-second ads will screen on TV One, TV2 and TV3, advising people on hygiene, preparing emergency kits and general household planning.
<!-- STORY ADS Start-->
Similarly themed advisories will run on the infomercial-style Family Health Diary television slots later this week. Radio ads will run in English, Maori and Pacific Island languages.
Households around the country will get a brochure, fridge magnet and covering letter from the Health Ministry in their letterboxes from next Wednesday.
The $1 million campaign is part of the intense planning which the Ministry of Health has been undertaking for the past year.
The bulk of the work would be completed by the middle of the year, although some planning work would continue indefinitely, said Director of Public Health Mark Jacobs.
"Everyone should be aware of the risk of a future flu pandemic and be aware that there are practical things that they can and should be doing to help their families get ready for that," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3604593a7144,00.html
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</td></tr><tr class="stuff_colour" height="1"> <td></td> <td colspan="2"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr> <tr><td align="center">
</td></tr> </tbody></table> Publicity campaign on birdflu about to start 15 March 2006 <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="5"><tbody><tr><td height="5"></td></tr></tbody></table>
A massive publicity campaign encouraging New Zealanders to prepare for a flu pandemic gets under way today.
The New Zealand Herald reported that a million-dollar publicity blitz would kick off with taxpayer-funded advertisements on television and radio.
The broadcast media campaign precedes a mail-drop to 1.4 million households around the country next week, advising people on hygiene and household planning.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread rapidly since the beginning of February, killing birds in at least 15 new countries as it spreads deeper into Europe and Africa.
It has killed or forced the slaughter of tens of millions of chickens and ducks across Asia and Europe since 2003, as health officials fear the virus could mutate into a strain that is easily transmitted between people.
That has not happened yet, but at least 97 people have died from the disease worldwide, according to World Health Organisation figures.
Fifteen-second ads will screen on TV One, TV2 and TV3, advising people on hygiene, preparing emergency kits and general household planning.
<!-- STORY ADS Start-->
Similarly themed advisories will run on the infomercial-style Family Health Diary television slots later this week. Radio ads will run in English, Maori and Pacific Island languages.
Households around the country will get a brochure, fridge magnet and covering letter from the Health Ministry in their letterboxes from next Wednesday.
The $1 million campaign is part of the intense planning which the Ministry of Health has been undertaking for the past year.
The bulk of the work would be completed by the middle of the year, although some planning work would continue indefinitely, said Director of Public Health Mark Jacobs.
"Everyone should be aware of the risk of a future flu pandemic and be aware that there are practical things that they can and should be doing to help their families get ready for that," he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3604593a7144,00.html
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