Report on the visit to the Institut Pasteur by the WHO Regional Director for Europe and the French Director-General for Health

On Thursday June 23, Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and Professor Jérôme Salomon, French Director-General for Health (and a member of the Institut Pasteur Board of Governors) visited the Institut Pasteur, together with a delegation.

Jennifer Heurley, Vice-President International Affairs, and Pierre Buffet, Medical Director, welcomed the visitors on behalf of the management team.

After visiting the National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses (Including Influenza) accompanied by the center's Director Sylvie Van der Werf, discussions were held with Jean-Claude Manuguerra, Head of the Environment and Infectious Risks Unit and Director of the Laboratory for Urgent Response to Biological Threats (CIBU), Simon Cauchemez, Head of the Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases Unit, and Anne-Laure Morin, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs.

The visit was an opportunity to present the Institut Pasteur's role and contribution in responding to health crises and its ambitions at French, European and international level, in conjunction with the Pasteur Network. Dr. Kluge and Professor Salomon welcomed the Institut Pasteur's efforts and impact in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Kluge also set out the broad lines of the ongoing discussions at WHO regarding the response to future emerging diseases, in connection with its "Preparedness 2:0" strategy (establishment of a European network for epidemiological surveillance, formation of a medical reserve corps, etc.). Contact was established with a view to future working meetings between WHO and the Institut Pasteur.