Team Leader
Influenza and Respiratory Diseases,
Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Professor Shindo is Medical Officer and leads Influenza and Respiratory Disease Team of Pandemic and Epidemic Disease Department at the World Health Organization in Geneva. Her background is in medicine, infectious disease and public health. She completed medical trainings at St Thomas’ Hospital, Radcliffe Infirmary, Jikei University Hospital and her Ph D in Medical Science (microbiology and cell immunology) at Jikei University School of Medicine followed by specialist training in infectious disease/public health at Infectious Disease Surveillance Centre, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) in Tokyo, which is one of five WHO Influenza Collaborating Centres.
She has worked with WHO since 2002. During her time at WHO Professor Shindo has been involved in activities such as epidemic intelligence and verification, outbreak responses and influenza pandemic preparedness. She participated in major WHO responses including SARS, avian influenza, Indian Ocean Tsunami, the deadly viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Africa, and more recently, 2009 influenza pandemic.
Since January 2012, she has been leading Influenza and Respiratory Diseases Team in the department. Her responsibility also extends to cover WHO Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza, assessment of influenza disease impact and influenza pandemic preparedness. Her other area of work is clinical aspects of influenza virus infection including use of antiviral medicine. During emergencies, she serves as one of the operational staffs of WHO's Strategic Health Operations Centre and deals with severe acute respiratory disease and avian influenza outbreaks of international public health concern. She and her team also combat against highly contagious and dangerous pathogens in the field to control the outbreak.