Maria Van Kerkhove, PhD

Maria Van Kerkhove is an infectious disease epidemiologist specializing in outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. Her research focuses on zoonotic, respiratory, and emerging diseases such as avian influenza, MERS, SARS, COVID-19, Ebola, Marburg, plague, and Zika. She is particularly interested in transmission between animals and humans, the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens, and using research to shape public health policies. Before joining WHO in 2017, she led the Outbreak Investigation Task Force at Institut Pasteur in Paris.