The invention includes a method and apparatus for disseminating information in a communication network having a plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving, in a node, a packet including link-state advertisements (LSAs) from the communication network and a flooding status field. Based on the flooding status field, the node determines the type of LSA received and then re-floods the packet onto the communication network, based on the type of LSA determined from the flooding status field. A sub-field in the flooding status field indicates whether the LSA is intended for distribution to the entire communication network, or is intended for distribution to other nodes in the communication network located within a predetermined range of the node. The node prevents re-flooding of the LSA, if the other nodes in the communication network are located outside of the predetermined range. The node includes a re-flood timer which is set to expire based on an urgency level included in the flooding status field. The node waits for the re-flood timer to expire and then re-floods the LSA packet from the node onto the communication network.