The emergence and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the importance of being prepared for any event in order to be able to identify new pathogens at an early stage and eliminate the risk factors that contribute to their emergence and spread.
In this regard, the World Health Organization is inviting experts to join the new WHO Scientific Advisory Group on the Origin of New Pathogens (SAGO).
The team is called upon to provide WHO with technical and scientific advice on the origin of new and re-emerging pathogens with epidemic or pandemic potential. SAGO is also tasked with advising WHO on further steps to investigate the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
In recent years, there has been a growing number of new and returning high-risk pathogens, examples of which are SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Ebola, avian influenza and more recently SARS-CoV-2. In this regard, along with close surveillance of infections and taking timely measures to identify them and mitigate the consequences, the issue of conducting systematic studies on the genesis of such pathogens and the mechanisms of their transmission remains relevant.
Then the World Health Organization and its Member States will have the opportunity to increase preparedness for future threats and minimize the risk of disease outbreaks escalating to pandemic proportions.
SAGO is intended to be a multidisciplinary team whose members will have a wide range of technical expertise and field experience on pathogen emergence and re-emergence. It will include up to 25 experts.
WHO accepts preliminary applications from individuals with extensive expertise in one or more technical disciplines, including infectious disease epidemiology and epidemiological research, field research, virology, ecology, molecular epidemiology, medicine, bioinformatics, microbiology, veterinary medicine, food safety , bacteriology, etc.
SAGO meetings can be held at WHO headquarters in Geneva or elsewhere as determined by WHO via video or teleconference.
Deadline for applications: September 10, 2021.
Ayjahan Ataballyeva
