Social Sciences Session: The history of infectious disease pandemics in Europe: what are the lessons for prevention and control measures?

event
22 Nov 2023
John Paget - Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel)

This session will review pandemics over the centuries (their causes, their impact (morbidity, mortality and societal) and the public health responses) and assess what lessons can be drawn for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in Europe. This is particularly important and relevant in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

This session will cover three short presentations on the impact of three pandemics in Europe: 

  • the Plague
  • the 1918 Spanish Flu
  • SARS-CoV-2. 

A complimentary historical presentation is given on the history of Epidemiological Intelligence Activities in Europe, that aims to lead to a  discussion about Europe’s history of responding to pandemics. There were lessons to be learnt, so what are the lessons for us today and in the future? 

This session was originally created and produced by John Paget (Nivel, Netherlands).

Date and time

Wednesday, 22 November, 15.15 - 16.00 CET

Moderator

John Kinsman

Sweden
Expert Social and Behaviour Change | ECDC

Speakers

Donatella Lippi

Italy
University of Florence

Peter Spreeuwenberg

Netherlands
Nivel

Lone Simonsen

Denmark
Roskilde University

Jon Bilbatua

Sweden
ECDC