"How will those drugs be deployed in countries where a smallpox outbreak might emerge? There are still many challenges considering how the limited supplies of both vaccine and drugs would be distributed. An intentional attack launched simultaneously in multiple global regions would complicate the response still further."
"Most bioterrorism preparedness experts agree that the likelihood that smallpox could return and cause a devastating regional or even global outbreak remains very low. Nonetheless, because of the potential consequences of such an outbreak, I believe that society has no choice but to have at least a moderate level of preparedness."
"It is probable that human cases of CWD associated with the consumption of contaminated meat will be documented in the years ahead. It is possible that number of human cases will be substantial and will not be isolated events."
"What our work will be doing is bringing together the world’s expertise, whether they’re at the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the NIH. And we will really serve as you might say 'air traffic control' on a global level for trying to develop new and better flu vaccinations."
"No one should assume that this means there's going to be this new universal flu vaccine in the next several years. This is going to take a lot of work. It's going to take billions of dollars and research that will be considered cutting edge at the time it's done and doesn't exist yet today. But we're optimistic that we can have a [universal] flu vaccine."
"Influenza, and particularly pandemic influenza, remains one of the greatest global health challenges today, and the results of this project will go a long way toward reducing these risks."
"By highlighting key research gaps, identifying strategic goals and milestones and encouraging synergistic R&D [research and development] activities, the roadmap will serve as a valuable tool to advance a complex field of vaccine research and stimulate informed investment in influenza vaccine R&D."
"Frankly, if the Chinese want to go to war with us, they wouldn't have to fire a single shot. They would just shut down the drug distribution overnight."
"We know, based on our recent experience, that there will be more and more incidents where necessary drugs or medical supplies will be unavailable to those in crisis and, increasingly, the consequences are truly about life and death."
"It's very possible and maybe likely that there may be other enteroviruses [aside from D68] that are causing similar symptoms. This is a tough disease, because it doesn't fit a model of strict cause and effect."
"I don't know if that's what did it [awareness of last season's severe flu season] or if in fact there are more organized programs to get people vaccinated."
"What makes us quite convinced that this is actually an infectious process is that these cases are not located only in one area ... and if you look at the seasonality, it's very, very striking to see that the vast majority of cases that have occurred since 2014 have occurred in the months of basically August and September and then coming back down in October ... It has all the makings of being an enterovirus-like agent or agents."
"We are beginning to sit on the cliff edge of a post-antibiotic era. This is not just about a problem today, it's about a problem that our kids and grandkids are going to bear in a very big way."
"We're seeing rapid testing becoming much more of a reality — a faster and more specific diagnostic result could help bring better outcomes for your patients and your institution."
