Prof. Dr. Hans L. Zaaijer
Head of Deptartment of Blood-borne Infections
Prof. Dr. Hans L. Zaaijer, MD PhD (Rotterdam, 1956) is medical microbiologist at Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Until recently he also worked as a clinical virologist at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. He is emeritus professor of blood-borne infections at the University of Amsterdam. Zaaijer has specialized in blood-borne infections since 1992. He co-authored guidelines for the prevention of iatrogenic HBV/HCV/HIV infection, for the handling of needlestick accidents, the screening of blood donors and the screening of organ and tissue donors. On behalf of the Netherlands Zaaijer was observer at the UK Blood Services Prion Working Group. Regarding blood safety the number of relevant agents, as monitored and studied at Sanquin, increases steadily because of emerging and imported infections (dengue, West Nile fever, chikungunya, zika, usutu) and a series of zoonotic outbreaks in Holland (resp. local mad cow disease, Q-fever, and porcine hepatitis E). In addition, his team studies the yield, costs, and ethical fairness of blood safety measures. Zaaijer took part in governmental committees of the Dutch Health Council concerning the future of the national vaccination program, HBV vaccination, Q-fever, and the screening of at-risk groups for HBV and HCV. He serves as chairman of the Dutch National Committee for Prevention of Iatrogenic Transmission of HBV, HCV, and HIV.
