A Brief History of High Consequence Infectious Diseases HCIDs in the UK, 1962–2023

A Brief History of High-Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCIDs) in the UK: 1962–2023” Date: Wednesday, 12th February 2025 About Dr Barry Atkinson: Dr. Atkinson has over two decades of experience researching high-consequence human pathogens, including assay development, high-containment microbiology, and outbreak response. His current work focuses on validating methods for detecting HCID pathogens in the environment, supporting infection prevention and control measures in the UK. About the Seminar: The UK has operated a defined system for managing patients with HCIDs since the 1970s, following the first recorded cases of viral haemorrhagic fevers. This seminar will explore the UK’s HCID experience, including protocols developed for diseases such as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease, and Lassa fever. Dr. Atkinson will review 41 cases requiring patient management under this system, providing valuable insights into the evolution of the UK’s approach to these significant public health challenges.