Dr. Goorhuis, Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases specialist and member of the Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases, addresses five key questions about Epi-Alert, the global disease outbreak alert system he founded in 2011.
1 When did you start the Epi-alert service and what prompted it?
The Epi-Alert service was launched in 2011, originally intended for the staff at the Center of Tropical & Travel Medicine at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC. Its purpose was to provide up-to-date information on global disease outbreaks, which could help in diagnosing ill travelers. This led to the first diagnoses of imported Zika virus cases in the Netherlands, thanks to early alerts about its presence in Suriname. As interest grew, Epi-Alert expanded beyond its initial audience and is now emailed weekly to over 500 recipients, with LinkedIn posts reaching up to 2,000 views.
2 What are your primary findings from the past year?
In 2024, key developments included the emergence of new infections like the Oropouche virus in Latin America and the Clade Ib Mpox outbreak in the D.R. Congo. Global warming has also driven the rise of several known infections, notably the spread of West Nile virus across Europe and the expanding risk zones for tick-borne encephalitis in Europe.
3 Which developments in infectious diseases have grabbed your attention since initiating the Epi-alert?
Aside from COVID-19, which grabbed everyone’s attention, the most striking development in infectious disease epidemiology has been the impact of climate change and global warming. Floods have led to outbreaks of cholera and leptospirosis in Africa and Asia, while droughts have fueled diseases like coccidioidomycosis in the U.S. Rising sea temperatures have caused outbreaks of Vibrio vulnificus septicaemia along the U.S. east coast. Additionally, expanding habitats for disease vectors have driven outbreaks of dengue and introduced the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus to Southern Europe—a particularly concerning trend.
4 What is the most significant insight you have gained from establishing the Epi-Alert service?
The most significant insight is how rapidly epidemiological changes can occur. I remember the WHO's first mention of a pneumonia outbreak of unknown origin in China in January 2020—initially met with little concern. Just two months later, on March 13, 2020, we cleared the Internal Medicine ward for our first COVID-19 patients. Staying alert is crucial, not only for public health officials but also for clinicians in the field of infectious diseases.
5 What advice would you offer to other infectious disease researchers contemplating launching a newsletter within their field or for their research group?
Want to subscribe? Send an e-mail to a.goorhuis@amsterdamumc.nl or start following Dr. Goorhuis on LinkedIn.
Text: Esmée Vesseur