On November 12-15, 2023, Dr. Vladimir Dedkov, Deputy Director for science of St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute took part at the 3rd meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) by the invitation of the World Health Organization (WHO). The meeting, organized by the WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Department, was held at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
27 Members of the SAGO committee and 10 WHO representatives took part in the workshop. Participants discussed the second edition of the report on the SAGO group activities in 2023. Comments from group members regarding recommendations for studying the origins of SARS-CoV-2 were taken into account. A list of pathogens posing a global threat to public health has been determined. The group members reached the agreement on the necessity to complete the synthesis report and recommendations for WHO member countries by mid-December 2023. The work plan for 2024 was discussed.
Reference. The Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO) was formed by WHO in July 2021 to study emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The group includes experts from Russia, Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, China, USA, France, South Africa.
