Global Surveillance for Avian Flu Outbreaks

Beverly Taylor, Head of Global Influenza Scientific Policy at CSL Seqirus discusses Avian influenza and its typical spread during migratory seasons and the current threat to human health based on national risk assessments. She talks about a recent abstract presented at the OPTIONS XI conference, the importance of global surveillance for avian flu and other influenza strains that could spark a pandemic and why global surveillance is more robust in certain regions than others and where it can be bolstered to better prepare us in the event of a pandemic. 

Over 30 years’ experience in the Biologics Industry at multiproduct facilities and for the last 22 years has focused on influenza vaccines. As Head of Influenza Scientific Affairs, WHO and IFPMA lead within the policy group at CSL Seqirus, she provides the interface between influenza science and policy issues and has responsibility for the external interactions with influenza vaccine industry associations, WHO and other NGO’s and Governments on behalf of Seqirus. She has held leadership roles in the IFPMA Influenza Vaccine Supply (IVS) Taskforce for the last eleven years, as Coordinator of the Scientific, Production and Regulatory (SPR) group for six years and Chair of the group since February 2018. She regularly represents industry at international meetings, including presenting at the World Influenza Conference as well as at ESWI, WHO and the Bio annual influenza meetings.Since joining the Liverpool site in September 1999 as Head of Quality Control, she has also held leadership positions in Primary Manufacturing, Technology Development, Business Improvement, Manufacturing Science and Technology and Influenza pandemic preparedness and has extensive experience in cGMP operations, regulatory submissions, product management, qualification and validation.

Her previous experience was with Sanofi Pasteur in Canada where she held a number of posts including those of Research Scientist and Director of Quality Control.