Wenqing Zhang
Bio
Heading the Global Influenza Programme of WHO in its headquarters in Geneva Switzerland since November 2012, Dr Zhang provides leadership and coordinates global activities on influenza surveillance and monitoring, detection of emerging novel viruses, risk assessment and evidence for policies, vaccine viruses and pandemic preparedness. Since COVID-19 Pandemic started, Dr Zhang has led the response component of sentinel surveillance and the interface of influenza and SARS-CoV-2. From 2002 to 2012, Dr Zhang coordinated the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), building, strengthening and ensuring the function of the global system of surveillance, preparedness and response. In response to 2009 A(H1N1) influenza pandemic, Dr Zhang directed the Laboratory Response and Capacity of WHO response. Before joining WHO, Dr Zhang worked for 9 years in the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine (later renamed as Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention), Ministry of Health on tuberculosis, schistosomiasis and iodine deficiency disorder initiatives in collaboration with WHO, World Bank, UNICEF and UNIDO. Graduated from Medical School, Zhejiang University, with a bachelor degree on biomedical engineering and postgraduate training on system evaluation and epidemiology.
