Maria Cheng
Maria Cheng
across difficult larger matter opportunity rapidly short spread start stop surprised window within worldwide
But this is a very short window of opportunity here. Because influenza spreads so rapidly we wouldn't be surprised to see this spread worldwide within a matter of weeks.Ê.Ê.Ê. Once we start to see this in a larger area, across borders, then it will be very difficult to stop it.
changed gone largely moment reason situation team virus whether
But at the moment we don't know enough about the situation to tell whether or not the virus has changed in some way. And that's largely the reason the team has gone in.
clinical course died illness laboratory probable prove similar symptoms test
She had similar symptoms and the clinical course of her illness was the same. So it would be very probable that she died of H5N1, but right now we don't have the laboratory test to prove that.
given since talking
Since we've been talking about this containment strategy, we've given the very big qualifier that we think it may fail.
behaving concern
When this outbreak (in Turkey) was first reported, there was a lot of concern it was behaving differently.
according eastern office
According to our Eastern Mediterranean office, ... it was not avian influenza.
according case dismissed eastern office
According to our Eastern Mediterranean office, it's been dismissed as a case ... they got back to us that it was not avian influenza.
boy cases confirmed include south suspect three
There is one confirmed case, the girl, and three suspect cases under investigation who have died. They include her uncle, the boy in the south and another case.
including people similar somewhat symptoms three
There have been three deaths, with symptoms somewhat similar to H5N1 infection. Other people are still in hospital, including one who is very sick.
cases gaps given human humans isolated points seeing serious situation surprised
We shouldn't be seeing human cases first, and this points to serious gaps in surveillance. But given the situation in Turkey, I don't think we'd be surprised to see isolated humans cases in surrounding areas.
details keen kinds obviously samples sent tests
We don't have a lot of details as to what kinds of tests were done, but we are obviously keen to have the samples sent abroad.
bird education measures network pass planning polio public tap
We are planning to tap into the polio network to pass on public education measures about bird flu.
cases determine exposure mode rapidly seen situation source whether
We'd like to see all these cases investigated rapidly so that we can determine what the mode of transmission was, what the source of exposure was, and whether or not there were any characteristics of the situation that are different from what we've seen in Asia.
cases contain identify might rapidly spread
If we are able to identify cases rapidly enough so that we could put in these measures, they might effectively contain the spread of a pandemic,