118th issue of the "Lettre de l'Institut Pasteur" out now: "Pathogens under surveillance"

The latest issue of the quarterly newsletter for Institut Pasteur donors – the "Lettre de l'Institut Pasteur" (LIP) – contains a special feature on surveillance of pathogenic agents.

There are currently more than 1,400 species of pathogenic agents capable of infecting humans. In France, infectious diseases are responsible for 25,000 to 30,000 deaths each year (not including COVID-19). Some microbes have been known for many years, such as the plague bacillus and the influenza and rabies viruses, but others have only emerged recently, such as the viruses Ebola, Zika and of course SARS-CoV-2. To tackle these viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites – and the diseases that they cause –, scientists and physicians are constantly pushing the boundaries of our knowledge about their biology, and are developing an extensive arsenal of diagnostic and preventive tools.

On the basis of this scientific and medical expertise, the French Ministry of Health designated 14 "National Reference Centers" (CNRs), hosted by various Institut Pasteur units. These CNRs operate under the responsibility of Santé publique France and serve as observatories of infectious diseases. Their tasks include sounding the alert in the event of an epidemic. Their surveillance mission benefits the research carried out in the Institut Pasteur's laboratories and technological platforms.

Consult the latest issue of the LIP

Copies of this new issue are currently being distributed on campus.
 

Please contact Flore Gaillard (flore.gaillard@pasteur.fr) if you require additional copies.