--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the first time in history we can…" description: "\"For the first time in history we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/margaret-chan-13176_behaviour_for-the-first-time-in-history-we-can-tra_1330501.png" --- # For the first time in history we can track the evolution… ![“For the first time in history we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behaviour.” quote by Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/margaret-chan-13176_behaviour_for-the-first-time-in-history-we-can-tra_1330501.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/margaret-chan-13176_behaviour_for-the-first-time-in-history-we-can-tra_1330501.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/651/margaret-chan-13176_behaviour_for-the-first-time-in-history-we-can-tra_1330501.png) > “For the first time in history we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behaviour.” [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Real‑time tracking now lets us monitor pandemic spread and viral changes instantly, unlike past delays. **In simple terms:** We can now watch pandemics as they happen. Key Takeaway Leverage live data for response. Themes science health technology Mood analytical urgent Type informative warning When to use this quote - public health - research - policy making - media reporting Key Concepts epidemiology surveillance Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve data sharing globally? - What safeguards protect privacy in real‑time tracking? A Different Perspective Data gaps and reporting lags still exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaviour/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Evolution Pandemic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution-pandemic-4462439/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Influenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influenza/) [Mutation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutation/) [Notorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notorious/) [Pandemic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pandemic/) [Pandemic Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pandemic-real-4462440/) [Pandemics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pandemics/) [Rapids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapids/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Influenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-influenza-4462441/) [Track](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track/) [Unpredictable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpredictable/) [Viruses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viruses/) ## Related quotes > [All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/all-countries-should-immediately-now-activate-their-pandemic/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously, precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/influenza-pandemics-must-be-taken-seriously-precisely-because-of/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [Pandemic influenza is by nature an international issue; it requires an international solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/pandemic-influenza-is-by-nature-an-international-issue-it-requires-an/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [The unique nature about the influenza virus is its great potential for changes, for mutation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/the-unique-nature-about-the-influenza-virus-is-its-great-potential/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [A pandemic influenza would mean widespread infection essentially throughout every region of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-pandemic-influenza-would-mean-widespread-infection-essentially/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pandemics do not occur randomly. From malaria and influenza to AIDS and SARS, the lethal microbes have come, in the first instance, from animals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/pandemics-do-not-occur-randomly-from-malaria-and-influenza-to-aids/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [The influenza pandemic of 1918 may well be the greatest scourge ever to afflict humanity, exacting a death toll greater than all the wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-katz/the-influenza-pandemic-of-1918-may-well-be-the-greatest-scourge-ever/) [David L. Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-katz/) > [Without equity, pandemic battles will fail. Viruses will simply recirculate, and perhaps undergo mutations or changes that render vaccines useless, passing through the unprotected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/without-equity-pandemic-battles-will-fail-viruses-will-simply/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/based-on-assessment-of-all-available-information-and-following/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [For a pandemic of moderate severity, this is one of our greatest challenges: helping people to understand when they do not need to worry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/for-a-pandemic-of-moderate-severity-this-is-one-of-our-greatest/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [After all it really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/after-all-it-really-is-all-of-humanity-that-is-under-threat-during-a/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [The education bestowed on Flora Poste by her parents had been expensive, athletic and prolonged; and when they died within a few weeks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-gibbons/the-education-bestowed-on-flora-poste-by-her-parents-had-been/) [Stella Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-gibbons/) > [It is perfectly obvious that no one nor any single country can save the world from the horrors of tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and winged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/it-is-perfectly-obvious-that-no-one-nor-any-single-country-can-save/) [Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/) > [“No other disease, no war, no natural disaster, no famine comes close to the great pandemic. In the space of eighteen months in 1918–1919,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-marrin/no-other-disease-no-war-no-natural-disaster-no-famine-comes-close-to/) [Albert Marrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-marrin/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) ## More by Margaret Chan > [The unique nature about the influenza virus is its great potential for changes, for mutation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/the-unique-nature-about-the-influenza-virus-is-its-great-potential/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [This change to a higher phase of alert is a signal to governments, to ministries of health and other ministries, to the pharmaceutical industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/this-change-to-a-higher-phase-of-alert-is-a-signal-to-governments-to/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/all-countries-should-immediately-now-activate-their-pandemic/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously, precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/influenza-pandemics-must-be-taken-seriously-precisely-because-of/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, and the related Accra Agenda for Action, are useful policy instruments that set out the mutual responsibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/the-paris-declaration-on-aid-effectiveness-and-the-related-accra/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [I have a reputation for being a straight-talker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/i-have-a-reputation-for-being-a-straight-talker/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [ The possible impact of the virus \[Zika\] an extraordinary event and a public health threat to other parts of the world. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/the-possible-impact-of-the-virus-zika-an-extraordinary-event-and-a/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [What amazes me most is that the media and I have fostered a close relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/what-amazes-me-most-is-that-the-media-and-i-have-fostered-a-close/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [I think U.N. organizations are important organizations. They exist for good reasons. And we also admit that there is room for us to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/i-think-u-n-organizations-are-important-organizations-they-exist-for/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [SARS was a very important event... And many countries have learned from SARS... The SARS event sort of gave them additional impetus and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/sars-was-a-very-important-event-and-many-countries-have-learned-from/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/based-on-assessment-of-all-available-information-and-following/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [Many diseases including malaria, dengue, meningitis - just a few examples - these are what we call climate-sensitive diseases, because such climate dimensions for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/many-diseases-including-malaria-dengue-meningitis-just-a-few-examples/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [New and emerging infections keep coming back and the world needs a collective defense system, and that requires international cooperation and collaboration, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/new-and-emerging-infections-keep-coming-back-and-the-world-needs-a/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [WHO has a country office in nearly every developing country, usually located close to the Ministry of Health. Staff in these offices need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/who-has-a-country-office-in-nearly-every-developing-country-usually/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [When you're dealing with new and emerging diseases, you have no idea and you can't predict in advance what would happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/when-you-re-dealing-with-new-and-emerging-diseases-you-have-no-idea/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) [Explore all 51 Margaret Chan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) ## More Behaviour quotes > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [I don't see much future for the Americans ... it's a decayed country. And they have their racial problem, and the problem of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-don-t-see-much-future-for-the-americans-it-s-a-decayed-country-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [“To live without any regret is to act right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-live-without-any-regret-is-to-act-right/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [I think it's a very central tenet to it yes, it is. I can't bear it, I can't bear inequality, I can't bear bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-suzman/i-think-it-s-a-very-central-tenet-to-it-yes-it-is-i-can-t-bear-it-i/) [Janet Suzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-suzman/) > [Look, I was only given a year or two to come up with tunes for this record, and when all but eight of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gorrie/look-i-was-only-given-a-year-or-two-to-come-up-with-tunes-for-this/) [Alan Gorrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gorrie/) > [Behaviour is a mirror in which everyone shows his image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinesh/behaviour-is-a-mirror-in-which-everyone-shows-his-image/) [Vinesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinesh/) > [There's a wow factor associated with my name. It could be due to my work as well as my behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/there-s-a-wow-factor-associated-with-my-name-it-could-be-due-to-my/) [Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/) > [The individualism of current economic theory is manifest in the purely self-interested behaviour it generally assumes. It has no real place for fairness, malevolence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-e-daly/the-individualism-of-current-economic-theory-is-manifest-in-the/) [Herman E. Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-e-daly/) > [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Modern man, seeking a middle position in the evaluation of sense impression and thought, can, following Plato , interpret the process of understanding nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-pauli/modern-man-seeking-a-middle-position-in-the-evaluation-of-sense/) [Wolfgang Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-pauli/) > [“I think this is one bad side of a mirror; it helps us to see the reflection of the effects of our own actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-think-this-is-one-bad-side-of-a-mirror-it-helps-us-to-see-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [A lot of celebrities just want money, fame, power, fancy cars, houses all over the world and have people BOW DOWN to them. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/a-lot-of-celebrities-just-want-money-fame-power-fancy-cars-houses-all/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) [Browse all 696 Behaviour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaviour/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the first time in history we can track the evolution of a pandemic in real time. 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