What if the pandemic had been handled differently?

What if the pandemic had been handled differently?

Niel Hens reflects in an interview on ‘De Ochtend’ (Radio 1) Five years ago, Belgium was on the verge of its first COVID-19 lockdown. This morning on Radio 1, Niel Hens, looked back on those crucial early weeks and discussed new insights from recent studies. In the interview, Hens highlighted…
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23-27 June 2025 | ESPIDAM

23-27 June 2025 | ESPIDAM

Niel Hens, together with Pieter Libin from VIB, will once more teach ‘AI and modelling for infectious disease control’ at the 2nd European Summer Program in Infectious Disease Analysis and Modelling, ESPIDAM. This Summer program is for PhD students, Post Docs, Public Health scientists, and supported by Stockholm University and…
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Code orange: infectious diseases on the rise

Code orange: infectious diseases on the rise

The Risk Management Group (RMG) has elevated the warning level for respiratory infections to code orange, signaling a significant need for increased vigilance as symptoms surge across communities. What does code orange mean? This heightened warning comes with clear recommendations aimed at curbing the spread of respiratory infections: Mask up:…
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The enduring influence of vaccine hesitancy | NEW PAPER

The enduring influence of vaccine hesitancy | NEW PAPER

The longer someone delays getting vaccinated, the less likely they are to get vaccinated at all. In our new study, we explore how this long-lasting vaccine hesitancy can impact how an epidemic unfolds. Using data from the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Portugal, we analysed vaccination waiting times (i.e. time between…
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How to weigh the costs and benefits of health investments

How to weigh the costs and benefits of health investments

When it comes to health, we all know that making proactive choices—like exercising more—is beneficial. But with limited time, energy, and budgets, how do you decide where to invest? Should you buy running shoes, sign up for a gym membership, or grab a 10-session fitness pass? This dilemma extends beyond…
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GEOMED 2024 welcomes spatial epidemiologists to Hasselt

GEOMED 2024 welcomes spatial epidemiologists to Hasselt

Last week, we've had the pleasure of hosting researchers from across the globe in Hasselt for GEOMED 2024, a conference dedicated to advancing the field of spatial epidemiology. Spatial epidemiology has become very important for public health management to understand how diseases are geographically spread, to understand how environmental, social…
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