I believe the momentum that is now building up will give us a chance to change the course of history and head off a pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus.

They acknowledged the need to strengthen the capacity particularly at the grass roots level.

In this surveillance for animals, particularly at the grassroots level, there’s some room for improvement in China. It’s too early to make any conclusion that the virus is already eliminated in China.

We need to realize that there is very little incentive for farmers to report suspected outbreaks,

We have to step up improvement of the primitive farming practice in China’s rural regions, especially the backyard feeding of chickens and ducks in many rural households.

It is possible that European countries can bring this under control,

The number of human cases is on the rise … and the virus continues to remain very changeable.

We know what works and what doesn’t. So why has the necessary action to prevent the virus from spreading not been taken? Why is the epidemic still growing and not reversing?

The situation is very serious and getting worse. It is still within our power to change the course of this epidemic.

All attempts to bring it under control in Southeast Asia have failed.

In spite of this geographical expansion and diversity in the nature of the virus, when it comes to the risk of transmission, we don’t have any hard evidence to indicate that the virus has become...

In my view, Asia is doing quite reasonably well for communicable diseases that now we have reached the point we can afford to discuss suicides and mental health problems in general.

The situation is worsening with each passing month and the threat of an influenza pandemic is continuing to grow.

There is an excellent chance for Europe to contain the Asian flu.

China has done a very, very good job.

If we received these samples from animals we would know what kind of changes the virus is undergoing, which is very, very vital in fighting against any potential pandemic.

This is the first time that we have third-generation infection in terms of laboratory-acquired infection.

We still believe it is possible to stop or delay a pandemic by implementing rapid containment measures very quickly.

The sharing of information must be timely, regular and global. From the more than 30 reported outbreaks in animals from 2005, no (Chinese) viruses have been made available so far.

This situation is not yet a serious public health threat, but if you compare this one with the two laboratory-acquired cases in Taiwan and Singapore, and also if you compare this one with the four...

many people have been exposed or potentially exposed.

Surveillance is crucial because, in my view, the outbreaks affecting transmission among chickens were there for some time without being noticed.

Based our experience, the epidemic among poultry may temporarily diminish and then seriously return, which means we should keep alert and well prepared.

TB-HIV co-infection threatens to reverse the steady progress toward achieving this goal,

In my view this is connected by the differences in the farming practices. In the West farming practices are well controlled — ducks, chickens and humans do not mingle together,

These excellent results mark a major achievement by a country that used to have a high incidence of neonatal tetanus. All countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region have made progress towards neonatal tetanus elimination....

We must try to ensure that we will be ready to respond instantly with all the weapons at our disposal should the early signs of an influenza pandemic appear. If we fail, the consequences for...

Even if you control avian flu, the next one is coming,

While we still have a window of opportunity, we must do everything we can to avert an influenza pandemic as we simultaneously prepare for a worse-case scenario,

The improvement of surveillance in rural areas is the most difficult challenge for us.

In fact, fear that their flocks might be culled without compensation is a pretty strong disincentive to report an outbreak,

We must keep in mind that we are likely to encounter in the coming years many other new emerging diseases,

Based upon past experience, approaching the Lunar calendar New Year, the number of cases will increase. That is our observation.

I think it is similar to tsunamis and earthquakes…we do not know when,

Antiviral drugs is important, vaccine is very important, but without the capacity to detect, analyze and report cases, all those weapons like vaccine and antiviral drugs would not be as useful.

This is perhaps the clearest indication yet that the world is increasingly committed to addressing the global tobacco epidemic,

But if we fail, the consequences for societies, economies and global public health could be immeasurable.

We cannot kill all the chickens and ducks to prevent bird flu from spreading among them and to humans; therefore, we have to make sure the chickens, ducks and humans do not mingle together.

Unlike the influenza pandemics of the past, this time the world has been given a warning that one may be on its way.

We know that implementing the convention will not be easy, as smoking is an ingrained habit in China, but the government has made clear its commitment to take action.

I’m quite optimistic on how much support will be given.