NEWS
2012 - 01 - 30 Prof. Dr. Claude P. Muller has been interviewed by The New Scientist as expert on measles and rubella research
Department of Immunology (LNSI). Prof. Dr. Claude P. Muller, Head of the Department of Immunology, CRP-Santé and Director of the European Reference Center for Measles and Rubella, World Health Organization (WHO) has recently been interviewed by The New Scientist , a high quality science and technology news magazine on a recent study published by N. Bharti (Princeton University, USA).
Satellite pictures from cities in Niger showed that there may be a relation between human migration and measles outbreaks. In poor regions night time glow reveals population density. Satellite pictures were taken from 4 cities in Niger during dry season. In three of them night glow had increased during dry season and also the number of reported measles cases, whereas in the 4th city with similar weather conditions but little seasonal migration, no increase in reported measles cases was observed.
Claude Muller says that a better insight into what makes measles seasonal is important to improve vaccination strategies target vaccination better and to make sure less virus gets through the inter-epidemic season. Ways to better control measles had also been discussed during the Global Technical Consultation to assess the Feasibility of Measles Eradication held on July 2010 in Washington and in May 2011 in Atlanta. Claude Muller was one of worldwide 8 experts at the CDC/WHO Expert Committee for Measles Eradication. A number of questions were raised about research priorities that needed to be addressed in order to facilitate measles regional and global control goals, including a global measles eradication goal.
As a WHO Collaborating Center and WHO European Reference Center for Measles and Rubella, the Department of Immunology has a high profile with WHO and within the WHO Laboratory Network. Staff members of the Institute serve since more than 15 years as consultants to International Organizations such as WHO, United Nations Development Fund, the World Bank, the European Union, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), National and Subnational Governments in Africa and Asia.