In the early days scientists were often attacked by activists for being more concerned with trying to prevent the epidemic spreading than treating the affected.

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The best way to prevent a human epidemic, of course, is to end the avian one.

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The best way to treat the obesity and diabetes epidemic is to prevent obesity in the first place.

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Recognising the potential of HIV treatment to prevent infections could slow, even halt the epidemic, and spare people the physical and mental suffering that the infection all too often entails.

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These actions are the result of the effort led by Vice President Joe Biden and members of the Cabinet to come up with concrete steps that we can take right now to keep our children safe, help prevent mass shootings, and reduce the broader epidemic of gun violence in this country.

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Mr. Chen said there are no signs of an epidemic but noted the approaching springtime is the key period to prevent disease.

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"We have seen an epidemic of excuses wrongly citing health and safety as a reason to prevent people from doing pretty harmless things with only very minor risks attached, " he said.

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