Infectious Diseases
The Robert Koch Institute is the German government's central institution for the identification, surveillance and prevention of infectious diseases in the Portfolio of the German Ministry of Health. Its experts monitor emerging infectious diseases and risk factors in the general population. They also provide scientific research. This allows appropriate measures to protect the health of the general public to be taken rapidly and effectively.
The Robert Koch Institute analyses pathogens and disease outbreaks, suggests measures for prevention and intervention, fills knowledge gaps and ensures the quality of health screening and care. Apart from that, its experts help prepare guidelines, recommendations and expert opinions for the federal government, the parliament as well as for the scientific and health sectors. An extensive knowledge base is a prerequisite for these tasks; the RKI ensures that it is up-to-date and continuously extended.
Here, we give an overview of the Robert Koch Institute’s aims, tasks and projects in the field of infectious diseases.