On January 5, 2023, the Center for Emerging Viral Diseases was officially designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a WHO Collaborating Center for Epidemic and Pandemic Diseases.
In this new role, we will continue and consolidate our long-standing partnership with the WHO. Over the past three years, we have collaborated with the WHO on numerous occasions, notably as a reference laboratory for COVID-19 tests and through the participation of experts from our center in a range of WHO activities.
As a WHO Collaborating Centre, we will be providing our expertise in the response to and control of viral epidemics and pandemics. Our work will focus in particular on the clinical management of infected patients and the use of antiviral treatments. We will support the development, dissemination and implementation of guidelines for emerging infectious diseases. Finally, we will validate and ensure diagnostic quality control to prepare for future epidemics and pandemics.
The Center for Emerging Viral Diseases and the reference laboratories supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) will also continue their current mission: to provide clinical, diagnostic and translational expertise for future endemic and emerging threats in Switzerland and abroad.