Super Flu: Race Against a Killer (ATOM Study Guide)

Super Flu: Race Against a Killer is a 52-minute 2005 documentary suitable for secondary students about the race to combat possibly one of the most deadly threats to humanity today – avian influenza. The film shows the attempts by a group of experts to try to identify and isolate the bird flu virus and then create an effective vaccine against it. It also looks at what would happen if a major influenza pandemic were to break out today. Advanced computer graphics, historic film and dramatic re-creations mean that a potentially complex topic can be readily understood. The film provides a springboard to help students discuss how viruses work, the causes of and cures for influenza, the role of the media in reporting sensational issues, and the role of governments in protecting their people from potentially disastrous events.

Curriculum Links:
Super Flu: Race Against A Killer would be suitable for teachers of middle to senior secondary students of:

• Sciences (Biological Science, Viruses)
• History (The Influenza Pandemic of 1918–1919)
• Geography (Mapping Spatial Relationships)
• Biological Sciences
• Health and Physical Education (Health of Individuals and Populations)
• SOSE / HSIE
• Media Studies