In this episode, we host Professor Meru Sheel to examine whether global health systems are prepared for the next major infectious-disease outbreak. Drawing on her work in infectious-disease epidemiology, vaccine research, emergency preparedness and global health security, Professor Sheel explores the difficult questions now facing governments, public-health agencies and international institutions: how quickly outbreaks can be detected, how effectively information is shared, and how public-health systems can respond before local emergencies become wider international crises. Set against the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and the international response to the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak, this conversation looks at the race between disease spread, surveillance, public trust and political coordination. We discuss why outbreaks test far more than medicine alone. Professor Sheel explains how public-health responses depend not only on vaccines, diagnostics and contact tracing, but also on logistics, risk communication, community engagement and trust in institutions. We explore the difference between individual severity and population-level risk, why a virus can be highly fatal without necessarily posing a pandemic-style threat, and why public-health messaging must warn people without creating panic. The episode also examines the role of the International Health Regulations, the World Health Organization, national governments and multidisciplinary response teams in managing complex, cross-border outbreaks involving cruise ships, repatriation, quarantine, clinical care and international contact tracing. Professor Meru Sheel is Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health at the University of Sydney. Her work focuses on epidemiology, vaccine research, outbreak preparedness, emergency response and immunisation systems, particularly across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. She has worked extensively on the relationship between routine vaccination systems and health emergency preparedness, and her research examines how surveillance, community engagement, vaccine delivery, public-health coordination and equity shape the ability of countries to prevent, detect and respond to infectious-disease threats. The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical instability and organised crime to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you’re a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter. Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe’s leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe’s leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe’s business leaders. Dominic is the go-to business advisor for leaders navigating risk, crisis, and strategy; trusted for his clarity, calmness under pressure, and ability to turn volatility into competitive advantage. Dominic equips today’s business leaders with the insight and confidence to lead through disruption and deliver sustained strategic advantage. Subscribe for all our updates! Tell us what you liked!
