On the evening of Thursday 7 March 2024 the Royal Society of Chemistry Belgium Section is welcoming Professor Marc Van Ranst to the British School of Brussels (BSB) in Tervuren to give a talk entitled 'Beyond COVID-19: predictions for future pandemics'. The talk is open to the public, but requires prior registration (see form link below).

Prof. Marc Van Ranst is Professor of Virology at KULeuven and the Rega Institute for Medical Research. In 2007, he was appointed as Interministerial commissioner by the Belgian federal government to prepare Belgium for an influenza pandemic and was a prominent figure during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium and beyond.

The emergence of future pandemics is an important concern, given the unpredictability observed in past outbreaks. While pandemics are rare events, several quasi-certitudes can guide our predictions. There is a high likelihood that the next pandemic may originate in Asia, particularly in densely populated urban centres. The role of air travel in facilitating the rapid spread of infectious diseases cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, zoonotic transmission, where diseases jump from animals to humans, remains a significant risk factor for future pandemics. The likelihood that a next pandemic will be caused by a rapidly mutating RNA virus is high.

The mode of transmission through respiratory droplets is a key factor to consider when preparing for and responding to future global health crises.

By exploring these predictions and understanding the commonalities among past pandemics, we can better equip ourselves to mitigate risks, enhance preparedness strategies, and safeguard global health security in the face of future infectious disease threats.

How, what, where?

The venue for the talk is the Brel Theatre at the British School of Brussels (BSB) in Tervuren and the talk will start promptly at 19h30.

Prior registration is mandatory for this event via this form. Please note that to comply with BSB security arrangements you will need to provide the names of all members of your party and also vehicle registration numbers. Registration will close on Wednesday 6 March at noon.

The talk will be followed by a networking reception.