As fears continue to grow over the emergence of a pandemic strain of influenza in the near future—mutations of several strains other than H5N1 have given rise to increased worry—a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program has awarded $24 million to 29 state and local public health departments to fund 55 projects to come up with innovative approaches for influenza pandemic preparedness, including several preparedness areas of concern that have been raised by numerous public health officials and planners.....