Dr. Omi says, "While we still have a window of opportunity, we must do everything we can to avert an influenza pandemic as we simultaneously prepare for a worse-case scenario. Avian influenza and the earlier outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are not the only emerging diseases we can expect to confront in this new century."
The Avian flu has killed an estimated 57 people and infected at least 112 since 2003. It was first detected in Korea and eleven other countries, including Kazakhstan and Russia.
Dr. Omi highlights in his report that tuberculosis, polio, measles, hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDS are all serious concerns for the organization, especially in the Western Pacific Region.
