CAST (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology), http://www.cast-science.org

CAST assembles, interprets, and communicates credible, science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public. CAST is a nonprofit organization composed of scientific societies and many individual, student, company, nonprofit, and associate society members. CAST's Board of Directors is composed of representatives of the scientific societies and individual members, and an Executive Committee. CAST was established in 1972 as a result of a 1970 meeting sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council.

'Avian Influenza: Human Pandemic Concerns'

This commentary addresses the current situation, evaluates the structure and function of avian influenza viruses, outlines pandemic risk assessment, and provides references and selected websites for further information. It comes from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). The Web address is http://www.cast-science.org/cast/src/cast_top.htm

'Avian Influenza: Trade Issues'

Although much of the concern about a pandemic outbreak of high-pathogenic avian influenza centers on human health, the potential impacts on the international poultry trade are significant. This paper brings these trade concerns into sharper focus. The document comes from the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). The Web address is http://www.cast-science.org/cast/src/cast_top.htm