News Conference with Minister of Health

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health

July 2, 2009 2:30 p.m. (EDT)

 

Thank you, Josée.  Good afternoon.  It’s a pleasure to be here today and I’m glad you can all join us.  Just to highlight what’s happening here in Mexico, moments ago I participated in a news conference with the Chief Public Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones and my counterpart from Mexico, Mexico’s Minister of Health Dr. Cordoba and U.S. Secretary of Health Sebelius.

International collaboration has been central to the management of the H1N1 and it is an important story to tell.  Throughout the outbreak, countries have been transparent with each other and with the public.  The willingness to share information in order to control the acute phase of the outbreak was based on relationships that we have developed over the several years and they were instrumental throughout the management of the pandemic. All of this has helped us learn more about the virus, preparing us to respond and preparing us for the future.  There is still a lot of uncertainty about what we will be facing in the fall but through our ongoing collaboration I’m confident that we will continue to work together to address these challenges. I’m looking forward to the rest of the time that I am here in Mexico and if there are any questions, I’d be prepared to answer your questions at this time.