Professor & Consultant Epidemiologist, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, BULGARIA

Formerly Professor Mira Kojouharova was Deputy Director of the National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Sofia, Bulgaria (2008-2016) and Head of the Department Epidemiology and Communicable Disease Surveillance. From 1996 to 2016 she was the National consultant on epidemiology to the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Bulgaria.

In the capacity of National consultant she participated in great number of MoH activities in the field of CD surveillance and prevention: strengthening the National Communicable Disease Surveillance System including EWRS and epidemic preparedness and response; strengthening the National Immunization System (improving the organization, performance and monitoring of the immunizations, the national vaccine coverage and the quality of reported data, injection safety; new vaccines and schedules introduction); facilitating the harmonization of the National CD Surveillance System with the systems of the EU countries and the process of integration with the surveillance network of EU. Professor M. Kojouharova was Principal Coordinator of the establishment and implementation of the system of Sentinel Surveillance of Influenza and ARI in Bulgaria and Principal Coordinator of the MoH working group in charge to prepare the first National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan. Her professional domain of expertise is epidemiology, prevention and control of communicable diseases: research and teaching in the field of postgraduate education in epidemiology, surveillance and control of communicable diseases and practical work related to the surveillance of communicable diseases in Bulgaria. Research interests: particularly focused on vaccine prevention, influenza and acute respiratory diseases in adults and children, poliomyelitis and viral hepatitis, reason for participation, management and leadership of twenty odd international research projects. Mira Kojouharova is author and co-author of over 200 publications in medical journals and 90 presentations at conferences and congresses. At present Professor Mira Kojouharova is a member of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC). Formerly she was member of several national and international professional bodies and advisory committees:

To the World Health Organization (WHO)

Member of: European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE); Expert advisory group "HIB Initiative"; WHO Advisory Committee on Polio Eradication (ACPE); Ad Hoc Expert Consultative Group on Polio and Public Health - WHO, Geneva; WHO GTN/VM Advisory Committee on Training etc.

To the European Commission

Member of: Health Security Committee, EC (2006-2014); Influenza Section to the Health Security Committee (2006-2015); Committee on the decision to set up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases (2005-2015); the Epidemiological Surveillance Component of the Community Network (ESCON) (2007-2015); ЕС Early Warning and Response System Component of the Community  Network (2007-2015); the Joint WHO-EU influenza pandemic preparedness planning working group

To the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

Member of: the ECDC Management Board (2007- 2011); the ECDC Advisory Forum (2011-2016); National Coordinator of the ECDC Competent Body in Bulgaria (2011-2015); National contact point for Surveillance (2007-2016); National Contact point for influenza epidemiological surveillance (2006-2016); National contact point for Scientific Advice (2007-2011); member of the editorial board of Eurosurveillance (2004-2015)