There have been a lot of bad news stories about infectious disease lately. The largest Ebola epidemic the world had ever seen unfolded in West Africa. Zika virus, previously thought to be little - if any -threat, gave rise to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. However, there are good news stories. In total, there have been six, yes 6, cases of poliovirus cases caused by wild poliovirus globally so far in 2017. That is the smallest number in a 6-month period that the world has ever seen.

Statistical and mathematical analyses are front and centre in the global flights against infectious diseases. I will highlight examples – explaining the challenges (computational, methodological, and data-related) faced and the most important achievements. I will look back as well as forward and speculate on what the future holds.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/c.donnelly