On 16 November, from 2.00 to 4.00 p.m., the HSE unit invites you to a seminar on the past, present and future of respiratory pathogens and the associated public health risks. Speakers from the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Leicester’s Department of Respiratory Sciences and the French National Research and Safety Institute for the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Diseases (INRS) will delve into practical aspects, such as ventilation and space occupancy, and their role in the management of pandemics and protection of populations. A talk about CERN and WHO’s collaboration on the quantification and relative importance of the different modes of transmission and associated risks will complete the agenda.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder that viruses are all around us, and has taught us lessons that may equip us for future outbreaks. In this context, the importance of multidisciplinary efforts and science-driven policies is greater than ever. At CERN, the pandemic led to innovations such as the CAiMIRA tool (CERN Airborne Model for Indoor Risk Assessment, previously known as CARA), which was developed to model the concentration of viruses in enclosed spaces. The tool provided precious help with space management during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been adopted beyond CERN’s confines.

More than a century ago, one of the major breakthroughs in public health was physico-chemical water treatment, which drastically reduced the incidence of several highly infectious and serious diseases. Could this mark the beginning of the era of “air treatment”?

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The event will be held in person in the Council Chamber and transmitted via webcast. A recording will be made available after the event.

For more details and to register for in-person attendance, please visit the Indico page of the event.

We hope many of you will be able to join us!