Albert Osterhaus

Erasmus Medical Centre, NL

Albert Osterhaus started his career in Utrecht, NL where he graduated with distinction at the faculty of veterinary sciences. In 1978, he received his PhD degree (with distinction) with Prof. Dr. M.C. Horzinek. He then moved to the RIVM in Bilthoven, where he would stay until 1994. Since then, he has been working at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, NL as Professor of Virology and is currently Head of the Department of Virology. He is also a professor of Environmental Virology at the University of Utrecht. Thirty years of experience in animal and human virology have resulted in a specific interest in viruses that ordinarily affect only animals but that can cross the species barrier. He is now a leading authority, able to identify dangerous and elusive new viruses with speed and precision. His team reacted with exceptional speed to the SARS outbreak of 2003 and identified the responsible coronavirus within days. This allowed the WHO to effectively diagnose and isolate suspected cases immediately, and in part as a direct result of his determination, passion and commitment SARS was brought under control and countless lives were saved. In 1997, he and his team silenced sceptics when they proved that Avian Influenza (H5N1) could be transmitted to humans. Based on the discovery he has enabled health authorities to prepare for potential outbreaks, and, as an individual, has campaigned determinedly for awareness, calling for a global taskforce to prepare for and combat viruses such as H5N1. Throughout his professional career, together with his team, he has identified around twenty "new" viruses (such as the human metapneumovirus, hMPV, and a novel human coronavirus, (HcoV-NL) as well as countless new possible hosts. His research includes studies on virus reservoirs in wildlife, mechanisms of transmission and pathogenesis of zoonotic viruses. In addition, innovative fundamental research on the natural and vaccine-induced immune response and on antiviral drugs is performed to combat the threat posed by (zoonotic) virus infections. As part of his tireless active interest in public health, he has acted as PhD mentor for around 46 students, written over 800 academic articles, created biotech companies and held several editorial positions. The continuous and groundbreaking work of the so-called "virus hunter" has helped prevent and control the spread of deadly viruses and will continue to do so, saving countless lives and changing the face of world health today.

Viral diseases & pandemics

Around 1900 infectious diseases caused an estimated fifty percent of all human deaths. In the following decades, this percentage decreased dramatically in the western world. This was largely due to the implementation of public health measures such as the instalment of sewage and clean drinking water systems, but also to the development of vaccines and antimicrobials. Paradoxically the following decades confronted the world with an ever-increasing number of emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases, some causing true pandemics.

The emergence of the currently ongoing influenza pandemic caused by the new swine H1N1 virus seems to fit in this trend. In the twentieth century alone, three influenza pandemics took place: the “Spanish flu” of 1918-1919, the “Asian flu” of 1957 and the “Hong Kong flu” of 1968. All pandemic influenza viruses originate from avian influenza A viruses. In the past 15 years, human infections with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of the H5N1 subtype (H5N1-HPAI virus) were of particular concern. Since 1997 H5N1-HPAI viruses have been identified in about 500 human influenza cases, with a case fatality rate exceeding 60%. Most of these were associated with outbreaks of HPAI in poultry. In several of the affected areas ranging from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, to western Africa, these H5N1- HPAI viruses have become enzootic in wild and domestic birds.

However, the first 21^st century pandemic was not caused by influenza, but by the hitherto unknown disease SARS, that rapidly spread from its origin in China. A global response coordinated by WHO rapidly identified SARS-coronavirus as the causative agent that had probably emerged from a bat reservoir. This allowed the rapid implementation of effective intervention strategies.

Barbara Bannister has been Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Royal Free Hospital in London, since 1985. She is Clinical Director of the high-security infectious diseases service, for the management of suspected dangerous infections in the UK. Her main specialist interests are in the management of infectious diseases emergencies and the clinical and public health challenges which they bring. She is a Consultant Advisor to the United Kingdom Department of Health, and was the clinical lead for the UK pandemic influenza response. She has extensive interests in the prevention and treatment of infectious disease, and is currently a Member of the UK Commission for Human Medicines and Chairman of its Anti-infectives, HIV and Hepatitis Medicines Expert Advisory Group. She is Chairman of the European Medicines Agency Scientific Advisory Group on anti-infectives. She is also the UK lead for a number of European Union projects on the management of severe and hazardous infections, and on training for emergency responses. Until 2009, she was Chairman of the Health Protection Agency Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention, which provided the national guidelines on malaria risk and prevention, and which also developed best practice guidance on the treatment of malaria in the UK.

Preparing doctors for responding to an influenza pandemic

Understanding the expected pressure and disruption to healthcare activities and how countermeasures can help; how medical services can adapt their way of working to manage influenza cases and maintain other essential medical services; and how to deal with the need for triage and prioritisation.