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

The WHO is the lead agency in health in the United Nations system, and clearly we have very important functions to play.

I am personally overseeing changes that include the establishment of a global health emergency workforce.

When you're dealing with new and emerging diseases, you have no idea and you can't predict in advance what would happen.

A severe disease that transmits easily will leave very little international surge capacity as most countries will need their own staff and resources to combat the outbreak in their territories.

...we hope to stop the transmission in six to nine months

For a pandemic of moderate severity, this is one of our greatest challenges: helping people to understand when they do not need to worry, and when they do need to seek urgent care.