Malik Peiris Quotations

What the study finds is that the impact of influenza in this case, on hospitalizations in Hong Kong ... is very similar to that documented in colder countries.

The region from Asia to Europe is a kind of black hole in terms of what we know.

The real culprits who are doing the movement you probably don't see. They're probably healthy. Obviously, if they're sick, they would not be able to migrate.

One can narrow potential culprits and be prepared with vaccines.

I don't think it will go away in the summer months, it will continue to be in poultry.

Just the introduction per se (of the virus from wild birds to poultry) is not a major risk but if it becomes endemic, that is the problem,

We must make sure our preparedness plans are well organized and ready and we must also get a vaccine ready and make sure it can be mass produced in numbers that are required.

The reasons for this unusual severity of human disease have remained unclear.

A large proportion of the global population is in this region, and beyond that there is a diversity of animals that are thought to be important in the generation of these pandemic viruses.

You really have to look at trends -- the daily figure or two days or three days doesn't really mean anything.

Once it amplifies in poultry then you have ample opportunity for continued interaction with human populations. The maintenance and perpetuation of this virus is really through poultry.

In terms of human health, the predominant risk is poultry because that is where there is significant exposure to the human population. The direct risk of migrating birds (infecting) humans is negligible -- it's like being knocked down by a bus.

By doing surveillance we know what is circulating, we know what is out there, and which are most serious contenders,