Dr Sylvie Briand is Director of the Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention department (EPP) at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
EPP develops global strategies to prevent and control epidemic-prone diseases (beyond Covid-19) under the International Health Regulations.
Dr Briand has been at the fore front of managing acute infectious risks to global health for more than 20 years, ensuring the development of global mechanisms and sustainable frameworks to facilitate multi sectoral and multi-partners coordination for epidemics and pandemics.
Scientist: Sylvie Briand

A scientist’s opinion: Interview with Dr Sylvie Briand on Omicron
Interview with Dr Sylvie Briand, Director of the Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention department at the World Health Organization (WHO). The rise of new variants, such as Omicron, appears linked to immune-deficient carriers. What is the relationship between the occurrence of these events and vaccination rates? Sylvie Briand: Surely, unvaccinated, immune-deficient people who become ...

Omicron, another chapter in the Covid-19 pandemic
Before the winter holidays, a new, more transmissible variant was discovered. By now, Omicron is responsible for most new infections in Europe. What do we know so far? And what are the future possible scenarios?