one of the most tragic, costly and preventable public health problems facing this country today.

The big health problem in the country today is diabetes and pre-diabetes obesity .

It may not happen for years but we don't know, so our job as the health department is to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

No country is safe from the risk of bird flu today, especially not Syria because it neighbors Turkey.

Information is probably the most important thing we can do -- sharing information, communicating with citizens, businesses, health care industry -- so that everybody can think about what they need to do, what is their part in surviving a pandemic situation.

Can you imagine the health problems?