Stef Stienstra

Director
Dutch Armed Forces / Royal Dutch Navy,
Netherlands

Abstract Title: There will be another nasty virus; how will we be prepared?

Biography: Stef Stienstra is a strategic and creative Consultant in Biomedical Science with a parallel career as a Commander of the reserve of the Royal Dutch Navy. For the Dutch Armed Forces he has responsibility for the counter measures in CBNRe threats and (Medical) consequence management both in a military and a civilian (terrorism) setting. He is a strategic functional specialist for “Health & Environment” of the 1-Civil-Military-Interaction Command (1-CMI) of the Dutch Armed Forces and for 2015 also in the NATO Response Force (NRF), which is in 2015 the responsibility of the 1-German-Netherlands-Corps (1-GNC). In his civil career he works internationally as Consultant or as Scientific Supervisory Board Member for several medical and biotech companies, merely involved in biodefense. He is also a Visiting Professor for Punjab University in Pakistan and Rhein-Waal University in Germany. He has completed his studies in Medicine and in Biochemistry at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands and has extensive practical experience in cell biology, immuno-hematology, biodefense and transfusion medicine. His natural business acumen and negotiation competence helps to initiate new successful businesses, often created out of unexpected combinations of technologies. His good understanding of abstract science combined with excellent skills in the communication of scientific matters to non-specialists, helps him with strategic consulting at top level management.

Research Interest: Public health systems are often unprepared for infectious disease outbreaks, partly due to declining investments in global public health over recent decades. More focus has been placed on curative care than on preventive measures. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa sparked renewed interest in investing in global public health to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Concerns now focus on limiting the spread of COVID-19, highlighting the need for public health systems to be ready for emerging zoonotic diseases and for better public communication to prevent infections. Zoonotic diseases pose significant threats because populations lack natural or vaccine-induced immunity, as seen during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. The West African Ebola strain had a longer incubation period, making it more likely to spread, despite being less lethal than other strains. Many public health systems are not adequately trained to manage such outbreaks, and while NGOs often focus on curative care, they lack experience with biological threats, for which military personnel are better trained in their bio-defense education. The UNMEER mission uniquely brought military and civilian actors together to combat a biological threat, underscoring the need for better protection for health workers and smarter systems to prevent disease spread. Both biosafety and biosecurity are critical, as the misuse of dangerous microorganisms or the creation of harmful pathogens using technologies like CRISPR-Cas poses a growing risk. Zoonotic diseases like anthrax, smallpox, and hemorrhagic fevers are potential bioweapons, and comprehensive measures, including bio-watch programs to monitor emerging pathogens, are essential to creating a safer society.