USGS National Wildlife Health Center publications awarded Blue Pencil Awards.

Two publications from the USGS National Wildlife Health Center have been awarded Blue Pencil Awards by the National Association for Government Communicators. The book Disease Emergence and Resurgence: The Wildlife – Human Connection won first place in the Soft Cover Book category and second place in the technical reports category went to the book Tularemia. Dr. Milton Friend is the primary author of both publications, which were completed in 2006.

George Selby, Liz Ciganovich, Dr. Milt Friend, and
Beth Armstrong at the Blue Penci Award Ceremony

Disease Emergence and Resurgence focuses on disease emergence in wildlife, the general importance of wild animals as sentinels for disease emergence, and critical issues regarding wildlife as sources for zoonotic disease (diseases transmissible between humans and animals). This publication’s content and writing style contribute to general public understanding of emerging and resurging wildlife disease; at the same time, it also addresses complex material and delves into scientific information useful for audiences with technical backgrounds.

The book Tularemia provides a pragmatic synthesis of the ecology of a bacterial zoonotic disease, relevant today because of its recent reemergence as an infectious disease of concern and its classification as a Category A select agent with potential as a biological weapon. Category A relates to a governmental classification of select agents that highly regulates scientific investigations and other possession or use. The use of color, many illustrations, photographs, highlight boxes, and tables make this an eye-catching and educational publication.

The National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) is a national not-for-profit professional network of federal, state and local government employees who disseminate information within and outside government. Its members are editors, writers, graphic artists, video professionals, broadcasters, photographers, information specialists and agency spokespersons.