About this talk
This Talk Recorded at TEDMED 2020 on March 3, 2020
At TEDMED 2020 (March 3), Virologist and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Director Peter Piot sat down for a Q & A with TEDMED’s Jay Walker to talk about the “novel” coronavirus. As Peter emphasizes in the conversation, “This is not a drill, it is the real thing.” Hear this world-renowned expert explain how easily this virus spreads, the realistic effectiveness of face masks, and the importance of slowing the spread of the disease. Peter also shares his thoughts on the potential timeframe for drug treatment options and a future vaccine.
In the context of the next pandemic and our future, Peter explained that, “We have to be realistic; this is a never-ending battle of humankind against viruses, don’t forget it’s a virus planet. But we are better prepared for the next epidemic when it strikes—that’s really important for us—and for that we need to be absolutely committed to build a global fire brigade I would say, long before the house catches on fire next time.”
About Peter Piot
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Dr. Peter Piot is a world-renowned microbiologist and a leader in global health. He is known for his work fighting some of the world’s most serious pandemics, including Ebola and HIV/AIDS. In 1976, he was part of the team that co-discovered the Ebola virus. For over a decade, from 1995 to 2008, Peter served as the founding Executive Director of UNAIDS, the United Nations program dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic. Under his leadership, UNAIDS became a powerful global voice for action against the disease, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. In recognition of his courageous work against the Ebola virus, Dr. Piot was named one of TIME magazine’s “Persons of the Year” in 2014 (as part of “The Ebola Fighters”). He currently serves as the Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, a role he has held since 2010. Peter’s work continues to influence global health policy. He chairs several important boards, including the Global Burden of Disease Independent Advisory Committee and the King Baudouin Foundation US. With a medical degree and a PhD in microbiology, he has published nearly 600 scientific articles and over a dozen books. His career is marked by a lifelong commitment to fighting infectious diseases and improving health worldwide.
