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Austria’s Impressive Track Record in International Crisis Management

June 10, 2021 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Dr. Roman Bayer and Mia Tellmann in Vienna, Austria.

Austria, a comparably small country with a population of 8 million, has assisted other countries in every major crisis since 2003. I was curious how this impressive track record was made possible.

My enquiry to the Austrian Government was kindly answered with an invitation from Dr. Roman Bayer, who I met in Vienna. Dr. Bayer works for the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Government of the Republic of Austria.

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Austria, crisis management, disaster management, emergency preparedness, European Union, INSARAG, OCHA, UN, UNDAC, United Nations, WHO

Biothreat and Pandemic Preparedness in Germany

March 4, 2021 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

In this part of my conversation with Prof. Dr. Manfred Wildner and Dr. Herbert Zöllner in Munich, we are discussing biothreat and pandemic preparedness in Germany. 

Dr. Herbert Zöllner

Dr. Zöllner worked for the World Health Organization from 1971-2002, in a variety of roles. He was Regional Officer for Health Economics at WHO’s Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen and later member of the executive management team in Strategic Planning and Coordination.

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: 9/11, bio threats, chemical weapons, defense mechanisms, emergency preparedness, Germany, nuclear threats, pandemic preparedness, terror threats, WHO

Crisis and Disaster Management in Austria

November 1, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Austria’s approach to crisis management is worth studying. It was the first European country to safely open their economy again after the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Picture by Shutterstock

During my internship at New York University’s Department of Public Safety, I had an opportunity to learn about emergency management and preparedness. An interesting fact I came across while looking at how individual countries organize themselves in the field of crisis management, is that Austria, a comparably small country with a population of 8 million, has assisted other countries in every major crisis since 2003. I was curious how this impressive track record was made possible.

My enquiry to the Austrian government was kindly answered with an invitation from Dr. Roman Bayer, who I met in Vienna. Dr. Bayer works for the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Government of the Republic of Austria.

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Austria, biological threats, crisis management, disaster planning, emergency preparedness, government, international disaster relief, pandemics, population protection, SKKM

History of Public Health in Germany

September 5, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Prof. Dr. Manfred Wildner, MD, MPH

The history of public health in Germany is inseparably intertwined with German historic events and public figures. I was able to learn about it from two experts in this field: Prof. Dr. Manfred Wildner and his colleague Dr. Herbert Zöllner, who are both based in Munich, Germany.

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Cold War, environmental health, GDR, history, infectious disease, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität, outbreak prevention, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, public health, Robert Koch Institut, Soviet Union, WHO, WWII

The Hong Kong Government’s Approach to Bioterror and Pandemic Preparedness

June 23, 2020 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Hong Kong is well prepared for any kind of biothreat. Picture by Shutterstock

Since the Hong Kong health system is often an important gatekeeper with regard to pandemics, I was interested to find out how the government structures preparedness efforts for both unintentional and intentional biological incidents.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, I spoke to a senior officer who is working for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). We discussed the Hong Kong Government’s approach to bioterror and public health preparedness.

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: biological threats, biosafety, bioterrorism, emergency preparedness, Hong Kong SAR, pandemic preparedness, WHO

The Norwegian Approach to Public Health and Pandemic Preparedness

December 21, 2019 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Norway has a universal health system. Photo by Mia Tellmann

As with many other countries around the world, biodefense and public health planning, surveillance, and response are the responsibilities of numerous intertwined agencies within a country that all have different assignments and responsibilities, yet have to work together to successfully protect a nation from harm.

Last summer, I interviewed a Norwegian public health expert who chose to remain anonymous. She shared with me valuable information regarding the Norwegian Government’s approach to public health. As the Norwegian health system is universal and available to everyone, I was interested to find out how they organize pandemic preparedness and the agencies involved. Continue Reading

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: biodefense, biological threats, ECDC, NIPH, Norway, Norwegian government, pandemic, preparedness, public health, WHO

Pros and Cons of Public Health Systems: Germany, UK, and USA

December 7, 2019 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

During my meeting with Prof. Dr. Manfred Wildner and his colleague Dr. Herbert Zöllner in Munich, Germany, we discussed the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the German, UK, and US public health systems. The systems are strikingly different. 

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: career advice, education, Germany, health spending, health system improvement, public health, system comparison, UK, USA

A German Perspective on Public Health Preparedness

November 11, 2019 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Each German federal state is responsible for public health. Pictured here is Munich, the capital of Bavaria. Photo by Mia Tellmann

Over the summer, I met with Prof. Dr. Manfred Wildner and his colleague, Dr. Herbert Zöllner, in Munich, Germany to learn about the structure of public health institutions and emergency preparedness in Germany.

Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 states. Each individual state is responsible for public health, as well as other matters including policing and education. I wanted to understand how Germany, and in particular the individual states, organize themselves to prepare for public health emergencies. Continue Reading

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, biothreats, CDC, ECDC, emergency preparedness, European regulation, Germany, IHR, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität, pandemics, public health, Robert Koch Institut, UN, WHO

Interview with Dr. Tomoya Saito – The Risks of Dual-Use Technologies for Biosecurity

April 28, 2019 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Bacteria Francisella tularensis, a potential biothreat agent. Picture by Shutterstock/ Kateryna Kon

Over the summer, I met with Dr. Tomoya Saito in Tokyo to learn about outbreak and bioterror preparedness in Japan.

This is Part II of my conversation in which we discuss the risks of dual-use technologies for biosecurity. Part I focused on the structure of the Japanese preparedness system and was posted in March. Continue Reading

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: biodefense, biosecurity, bioterror prevention, control measures, dual-use, Japan, new technology, public health, regulation

A Japanese Perspective on Outbreak Preparedness: Prevention and Response to Biological Threats

March 17, 2019 by Mia Tellmann Leave a Comment

Dr. Tomoya Saito

Last summer, I met with Dr. Tomoya Saito in Tokyo to learn about outbreak and bioterror preparedness in Japan.

Our conversation will be posted in two parts. Part I (below) is about the role that different Japanese institutions play to prevent and respond to biological threats.  In Part II (to be posted soon) we will discuss how dual-use technologies change the risk of biothreats.

Dr. Saito is Chief Senior Researcher at the Department of Health Crisis Management of the National Institute of Public Health of Japan (NIPH). His current area of research is biosecurity, public health emergency preparedness and response, and simulation epidemiology. He is based in Saitama, Japan.

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: biodefense, biological threats, bioterrorism, BWC, GHSI, global response, government, Japan, preparedness, prevention, public health, WHO

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