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My argument is, whatever resources you put in place, compared to the possible economic loss in the event of a pandemic, is peanuts.
Margaret Chan -
Many diseases including malaria, dengue, meningitis - just a few examples - these are what we call climate-sensitive diseases, because such climate dimensions for rainfall, humidity and temperature would influence the epidemics, the outbreaks, either directly influencing the parasites or the mosquitoes that carry them.
Margaret Chan
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It is meant as a fire blanket to contain damage if we receive signals and evidence from the ground that we are moving into the beginning of a pandemic.
Margaret Chan -
Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.
Margaret Chan -
I must stress that it is still a suspected case at this stage and the experts are still investigating.
Margaret Chan -
A severe disease that transmits easily will leave very little international surge capacity as most countries will need their own staff and resources to combat the outbreak in their territories.
Margaret Chan -
For the first time in history we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behaviour.
Margaret Chan -
The International Health Partnership Plus is addressing the need to harmonize development assistance and reduce the current waste, duplication, and high transaction costs.
Margaret Chan
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...we hope to stop the transmission in six to nine months.
Margaret Chan -
Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise in Europe and elsewhere in the world. We are losing our first-line antimicrobials. Replacement treatments are more costly, more toxic, need much longer durations of treatment, and may require treatment in intensive care units.
Margaret Chan -
The international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response.
Margaret Chan -
[we have]taming of an ancient disease [malaria] that over the centuries has killed untold millions of people.
Margaret Chan -
During the past week, indeed new confirmed cases have shown a downward trend. The situation has stabilized, ... Our estimation is that this is a result achieved through concerted efforts from all quarters.
Margaret Chan -
Some experts say we are moving back to the pre-antibiotic era. No. This will be a post-antibiotic era. In terms of new replacement antibiotics, the pipeline is virtually dry. A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it. Things as common as strep throat or a child's scratched knee could once again kill.
Margaret Chan
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If the country has invested in the training of doctors or nurses or midwives for that matter, people are beginning to say, 'Should we not ask them to serve a number of years in the country who invested in their training?' I think this is now coming to be an interesting discussion.
Margaret Chan -
At a time of multiple calamities in the world, we cannot allow the loss of essential antimicrobials, essential cures for many millions of people, to become the next global crisis.
Margaret Chan -
We cannot think of the old days when we were dealing with SARS. It's a totally different ballgame now.
Margaret Chan -
Doctors and nurses, with their training and their experiences, they would be able to detect unusual patterns of disease. That's why we say it is important for every country to have a proper surveillance system. The function of the surveillance system is to detect unusual patterns of diseases.
Margaret Chan -
We need to empower women. Give women a voice in the decision-making process. Give women a political voice where they can champion, for their own welfare. And, of course, for us. United Nations - organizations, agencies - we need to do our part.
Margaret Chan -
For a pandemic of moderate severity, this is one of our greatest challenges: helping people to understand when they do not need to worry, and when they do need to seek urgent care.
Margaret Chan
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For the first time in human history, we have a chance to prepare ourselves for a pandemic before it arrives, ... It is incumbent upon the global community to act now.
Margaret Chan -
When is the next time? We don't have a time frame. I suspect it will likely to be November, if history is anything to go by.
Margaret Chan -
So far there is no evidence for increased chance of human-to-human transmission.
Margaret Chan -
The unique nature about the influenza virus is its great potential for changes, for mutation.
Margaret Chan