I think this is a very strong message coming from the U.S. government.

Until we see further evidence we are still at phase three of the pandemic alert.

That was a time when we were really working together as an international community of academics, politicians, public health experts. Everybody really was so focused.

[For now, bird flu is] still very much an animal disease and animal problem, ... If we can really control the animal sector, the risk to humans is low.

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.

The Chinese government has taken very effective measures, and they are making improvements every month, even every day.

With increased surveillance its not unusual that you would pick up more cases.

The cost to agriculture has exceeded US$10 billion (euro8.3 billion). The livelihood of around 300 million farmers has been affected.

I am encouraged that more work has been done in the last few months compared to before. But still there are many gaps that we need to fill in terms of human and laboratory capacity and infrastructure.

Concern has mounted progressively and events in recent weeks justify that concern.

In view of the situation in Iraq, I was on the phone talking to the company and they are willing to provide in the order of 7-10,000 treatment courses and we are trying to ship them as soon as possible to the ground.

The outbreak in poultry is historically unprecedented.

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.

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.

My advice ... is that in selecting fish, perhaps at this juncture, it would be wise to select freshwater fish and other chilled fish from other parts of the world.

All private and public hospitals have been urged to step up infection control measures and report to the [health] department unusual pattern of illness.

We are not in a pandemic situation. It is still an animal disease.

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.