MONITORING INFORMATION IN THE RISK SOCIETY: the case of the pandemic avian flu

Abstract

In the Risk society, contemporary latent condition, the monitoring of the external environment is recognised as a key activity to face the uncertainty of the future events. This study describes a research, in course, on how to deal with the development of a system of  monitoring information about pandemic influenza. Considering the multi-dimension and possibilities of the pandemics, the Plano Brasileiro de Preparação para uma Pandemia de Influenza will be the starting point for the identification of the themes that shall be monitored. Supported by the communication and information  technologies and the Internet, the monitoring shall be carried out by a robot program specially designed for this purpose. The aim is to propitiate a cyberspace which embodies official qualified and up-to-date information which enable the decision maker a   systemic  and a more integrative view of  both some competences and of the status of National actions and efforts to prevent pandemics.