ASPHER updates
ASPHER Public Health Emergencies Task Force Statement on MPOX
COULD THE CONTINUING MPOX EPIDEMIC THREAT IN AFRICA LEAD TO THE NEXT PANDEMIC IF URGENT GLOBAL ACTION IS NOT SUSTAINED? Part of ASPHER Epidemic Emergencies Lessons Learned Series 13 December 2024 Mohamud Sheek-Hussein, Ariane Bauernfeind, John Middleton, John Reid, Shane Creagh Piper, Vasco Ricoca Friere Duarte Peixoto, Alison McCallum, on behalf of the ASPHER Public Health Emergencies Task Force Read and download the full statement here: https://www.aspher.org/download/1605/aspher-mpox-epidemic-threat-december2024.pdf Mpox is a growing threat, a changing virus, evolving in severity and transmissibility. This zoonotic disease, was first recognised as a global public health threat when the Clade IIb epidemic was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 23rd July 2022 (1). Global escalation of epidemic countermeasures reduced spread and PHEIC status was discontinued from 11th May 2023. However, mpox is considered endemic in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic (CAR) with cryptic, sustained human to human infection in parts of Nigeria since 2014 (2) (3). On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General declared a new PHEIC (4), based on the increase in mpox cases in DRC and rapid spread to neighbouring countries that had not previously reported outbreaks (5). According to recent CDC reporting (6) to date, the global epidemic of clade II mpox has caused more than 100,000 cases in 122 countries, including 115 countries where mpox was not previously reported. Of particular concern is emergence of a new sub-lineage of the clade I mpox virus (clade Ib) and evidence indicative of ongoing evolution (7). In this new epidemic, two-thirds of cases and 85% of the deaths in DRC, are in children under 15 years old, with infants and young children experiencing an approximately 10% case fatality rate (CFR). In this statement we revisit our continuing ‘Lessons Learned’ focus on epidemics and pandemics. This builds upon ASPHER’s previous commentary on the first Mpox PHEIC in 2022/23 (8), and on our wider lessons on global preparedness for epidemics from the COVID-19 Pandemic (9). We also view the challenges of this second mpox PHEIC in the context of our recent commentary on the Global Pandemic Agreement (10) where we welcomed progress to date highlighting the need for sustained investment in global early warning systems, prompt public health alerts and co-designed knowledge generation, exchange and application, while noting the depleted public health workforce, requirement for capacity building, and ongoing concern re inequitable access to diagnostics, support, vaccines and countermeasures.
Public Health Emergencies | Lore Leighton
ASPHER Calls for Awards and Elections
CALL FOR ASPHER PRESIDENCY and ASPHER EXECUTIVE BOARD (up to 4 seats) Elections will be held at the ASPHER General Assembly for the ASPHER PRESIDENCY and the ASPHER EXECUTIVE BOARD. The Presidency is a two year term with option to run once for re-election. The Executive Board is a three year term with option to run once for re-election. Each candidate interested in running for election to the ASPHER Presidency or the ASPHER Executive Board should submit letters of nomination from two ASPHER Member institutions other than their primary home institution. If you are interested to help steer ASPHER over the course of the coming years, please let us know. DEADLINE: Nomination letters should be received by office@aspher.org by Friday 23 May. CALL FOR ASPHER AWARD NOMINATIONS Each year ASPHER honours outstanding members of the public health community with the following awards: ANDRIJA ŠTAMPAR MEDAL. The Andrija Štampar Medal recognizes outstanding lifetime achievements in the public health teaching, research or practices of an esteemed individual within the public health community. Nominees do not need to be a current or past faculty member of an ASPHER member school. ASPHER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD. This award recognizes outstanding achievements in public health research. It is given annually to an individual – on behalf of their research team – primarily affiliated with an ASPHER member school. ASPHER TEACHING & PRACTICE EXCELLENCE AWARD. This award recognizes outstanding achievements in public health teaching and practice of a School of Public Health within the ASPHER community. It is given to an ASPHER member school or ASPHER-member programme of public health. ASPHER EARLY CAREER EXCELLENCE AWARD. This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of teaching, research or practice of early career individuals. It is given annually to a maximum of five individuals that are primarily affiliated with an ASPHER member school. Early career positions considered for this award include up to assistant/associate professors. More details on the Award descriptions can be found here: https://www.aspher.org/download/1606/aspher-awards.pdf DEADLINE: Please send your nominations to office@aspher.org by Friday 25 April for outstanding members of the public health community that deserve recognition for the 2025 ASPHER Awards.
ASPHER Secretariat | Lore Leighton
Member updates
The ongoing ASPHER website update serves two purposes:
Rebranding
The first is part of the corporate rebranding of ASPHER to bring a fresh look to the face of the Association. This includes the new modernised ASPHER logo, adopted at the ASPHER General Assembly in June of 2024. It echoes the past logo, keeping the graphical element of public health academics working with hearts and minds to improve the population’s health.
Online community
The second is to create a member driven ASPHER online community where individual users affiliated with ASPHER member schools (heads of schools, faculty, students and alumni) will be able to interact with each other, network and share their work, join and participate in ASPHER groups, and so much more – expanding together to unlock the ASPHER Community’s full potential!
This website is still under development:
Learn more about what is available now and what future functionalities will be rolling out:
Directory
The directory of all ASPHER Member institutions and registered individuals is now available and may be searched using key filters. Join now and spread the word to your colleagues to register here.
Profiles
Start making your profile most relevant by filling details about yourself and update your institutional affiliations, connect it with other social media and scientific platforms to link up all of your activities. We'll expand what you can do with your profile based on user feedback received.
Moderators
Update your Institution's profile, create pages to provide information about your school's education, training and research offers.
Feedback
Let us know what you think about the new page so far and what functionalities you would like to see in the feedback form below to help us dynamize online interaction at the new website!
Stage 1
Available now!
Stage 2
Coming in Summer 2025
Structures
ASPHER office will fill out the website including ASPHER structure pages such as working groups, task forces, projects and platforms. Structures will be moderated; registered individuals and member institutions will be able to affiliate with structures they contribute to. Structures will be able to create pages just like member institutions allowing for further networking and interactions.
Feedback
We will continue to collect your feedback and discuss and prioritize what can be most immediately implemented. We will aim to have additional ideas ready for the ASPHER Deans’ & Directors’ Retreat in June to get more members involved while in Berlin.
Interoperability
We will be discussing with EUPHA and other partners to see how to create interoperabilities between our online systems for meaningful interactions (e.g., EUPHA sections, EPH Conference).
ASPHER 2030 Strategy Consultation
The new website will serve as a key platform for the ASPHER 2030 Strategy Consultation.
1. Public Health Training Hub
INCLUDING:
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catalogues of available training & trainer
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curriculum building tools
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and more...
2. Public Health Practical Knowledge & Engagement Hub
INCLUDING:
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member matching for partnership on projects & research interests
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online endorsement system for statements and publications
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and more...
3. Public Health Career Development & Advancement Hub
INCLUDING:
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individual career guidance and upskilling, job opportunities and competency profiling
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public health workforce capacity planning tools
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and more...
Stage 3
Coming in Winter 2025/2026: full dynamic online community functionality
Please provide your feedback!
Feedback form
We want the new ASPHER website to work for you. What do you think about it so far? What functionalities and resources would you like us to add / prioritize? Send us your ideas for how you think the website could better serve the public health schools community.
