Ann Veneman Quotes

We cannot think of the old days when we were dealing with SARS. It's a totally different ballgame now.

We must remember that coronavirus is a new disease, which presents new challenges.

The spread of the disease is under control. What I worry about is the spread of fear of the disease is not under control.

Covid-19 may be here for a long time.

After all it really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.

When we think of the major threats to our national security, the first to come to mind are nuclear proliferation, rogue states and global terrorism. But another kind of threat lurks beyond our shores, one from nature, not humans - an avian flu pandemic.

In today's world, new infections and diseases can spread across the country and even across the world in a matter of days, or even hours, making early detection critical.

Pandemics happen. When they do, they change the world.

Pandemics happen. They have happened three times in the last 100 years…. They change the politics, the culture, the society. Pandemics do that …. Pandemics reshape history …. The likelihood of a pandemic is almost certain…. The consequences are worldwide.

There is nothing new about the sudden enthusiasm for aggressive government intervention during a health crisis. Throughout history, pandemics have led to an expansion of the power of the state.

I'm tired of being behind this virus. We've been behind this virus from day one. We underestimated this virus. It's more powerful, it's more dangerous than we expected.

The worst pandemic in modern history was the Spanish flu of 1918, which killed tens of millions of people. Today, with how interconnected the world is, it would spread faster.

What works most effectively for quelling disease outbreaks like Ebola is not quarantining huge populations. What works is focusing on and isolating the sick and those in direct contact with them as they are at highest risk of infection. This strategy worked with SARS, and it worked during the H1N1 flu pandemic.

Humankind is no stranger to calamitous outbreaks of diseases.

We live in a world at constant risk of public health emergencies. In our increasingly interconnected world, public health emergencies can affect anyone, anywhere.

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, we need to make sure we have enough medical professionals to care for people in need.

Every ounce of resources in our state should be focused on defeating the hidden enemy we all have in common: COVID-19.

In the face of Covid-19, everything else seems a side-issue.

COVID-19 is a national crisis, and we need a national response to address it.

I've never been quarantined. But the more I look around the more I think it might not be a bad idea.

Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously, precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.

Ninety percent of the cases of polio are in security-vulnerable areas.

A pandemic influenza would mean widespread infection essentially throughout every region of the world.

We saw in 2003 the beginnings of an outbreak of an illness called SARS. SARS ended up killing 800 people which is a significant number of deaths, but nowhere near as high as it could have been.

I believe we have to nip Ebola in the bud before it spreads through Africa and to other countries.