Shigeru Omi

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

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.

I hope that we'll get the samples soon.

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

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

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

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.

Although there are new developments in Turkey, the situation in Asia is more serious than in any other parts of the world.

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

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

many people have been exposed or potentially exposed.

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

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

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

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

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 more infectious.

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

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

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

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

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

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 societies, economies and global public health could be immeasurable.

China has done a very, very good job.

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.