Henk Bekedam Quotations

The real challenges are still at the grassroots level, and the capacity there remains very limited.

Now we dare to say that the SARS epidemic is over its peak period both globally and in China, ... This shows SARS can be contained -- this, despite the fact that we still have no vaccine or cure or diagnostic test.

On the other hand, I would like to stress...the current virus is not easily transmittable to humans. We don't expect a large number of cases.

China has many challenges. China has a large poultry population of 14 billion and 70 percent of that poultry is being kept in the backyard.

It is hoped that the lessons of SARS have been taken to heart by the Chinese authorities, and that China's leadership in combating the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak will be an example to other countries affected at this time.

We hope China can share more information and samples of bird flu timely, regularly and globally.

We need to share information and samples in a timely manner, in a regular manner and also globally.

We expect there will be more poultry outbreaks,

We think it is important for the Ministry of Health to share more of what they are doing. We think that that will be helpful for some of the doubts that the international community has.

We are very much aware of this person. We have spoken to the government and are following it up. We have not received any specific details about his whereabouts.

The virus doesn't differentiate between military personnel and civilians, so it's a problem that military officials don't report their figures to the Beijing government.

Roughly half of the new infections are sexually transmitted. The other 48 percent comes from intravenous drug users, and the remaining 2 percent are vertical transmissions from mother to child.

Ratification of the FCTC by China could not have come at a better time,

A disease in one country is a threat to another, ... the best chance to eradicate or contain a new infectious disease is when it emerges.

As long as there are poultry outbreaks, people will be exposed to the virus and we can expect that people might get infected.

This allows China to truly join global and regional efforts to curb smoking. Many lives will be saved, public health will be strengthened, and the economy will benefit as well.

It is very difficult to monitor the poultry in the backyards,

That means about 10 billion birds and it is very difficult for the government to monitor their health status. It is an enormous challenge.

So far it is primarily an animal disease. The more it is contained to animals, the better.

If there's evidence of human-to-human transmission, there will be small clusters. We are not at that stage.

If you do not have the resources to deal with SARS, I think we're going for a very big outbreak in China.

If you put a message out there very strongly, then Chinese people might go into a panic, which is absolutely unnecessary,

If you go to deal with human health issues only when it strikes people, I think you're already one step behind. You can never build a defense system if you only beef up the human side.

In the winter, the virus can survive longer outside its own host ... so we expect more cases, especially in this part of the world.

The challenge now is to eliminate it as a public threat. The surveillance system needs to be beefed up to be more sensitive and action-oriented so we can get all SARS cases.

The challenge now is to eliminate it as a public threat, ... The surveillance system needs to be beefed up to be more sensitive and action-oriented so we can get all SARS cases.