Emerging and re-emerging epidemic diseases pose an ongoing threat to global health security. The World Health Organization (WHO) works to provide expert guidance and lead global networks and systems to anticipate, prevent and control epidemic and pandemic diseases. When a significant public health event takes place, WHO’s comprehensive global alert and response system ensures that information is available and response operations are coordinated effectively. To do this, the organization works closely with national governments. Our invited speakers will discuss the threat of introduced infectious disease to Australia and how WHO contributes to disease prevention and control.
- Professor Chris Baggoley, AO is Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government Department of Health, Ministry of Health of Australia. And is the principal medical adviser to the Minister and the Australian Department of Health. He has served as Chair of the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
- Dr Paul Effler is Medical Coordinator, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, WA Department of Health. He serves as a member of the WHO Global Outbreak and Response Network (GOARN) Steering Committee.
- Professor Tania Sorrell, AM is Director of the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney; Director, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research; Deputy Dean (Clinical), Sydney Medical School. She is a regular expert contributor to the WHO, and directs the NHMRC/Centres of Research Excellence ‘Protecting the public from emerging infectious diseases’ project.