Prominent Global Health Leader Yves Buisson Dies at 77
Paris, December 2, 2025 – Professor Yves Buisson, a distinguished doctor, epidemiologist, and tireless advocate for global health, has died at the age of 77, the French Association for Scientific Data (Afis) announced today. Buisson passed away on November 26, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of leadership across multiple continents and a critical viewpoint on the intersection of science and public policy.
Professor Buisson dedicated his career to combating infectious diseases and strengthening healthcare systems worldwide. He held the Chair of Epidemiology and Prevention in the Armed Forces and was a highly respected figure within the French medical community, becoming a member of the national Academy of Medicine in 2007 and an associate member of the National Academy of Pharmacy in 2018. Just this past June, he was elected to the Overseas Academy of Sciences.
His extensive international experience included directing the medical biology laboratory of the pasteur Institute of dakar in Senegal (1980-1983), leading the clinical biology department at the Val-de-Grâce army training hospital in Paris (1987-1999), and serving as director of the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia (1999-2001). He furthered his impact as general delegate of the international network of pasteur Institutes and associated institutes (2001-2002), director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine of the Army Health Service – Le Pharo in marseille (2004-2007), and director of the Institute of the Francophonie for Tropical Medicine in Vientiane, Laos (2008-2013).
Beyond his directorships, Professor Buisson was president of the Society of Exotic Pathology from 2015 to 2018 and played a crucial role in France’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic as coordinator of the Covid-19 Monitoring Unit of the National academy of Medicine from 2020 to 2023.
A firm believer in the importance of clear dialog between scientists and the public, Buisson reflected on the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis, stating: “Communicating is probably, for scientists, the most challenging issue during a health crisis. We must inform the general public without worrying them and advise the goverment without being exploited.” He cautioned against the dangers of overly technical or monopolized scientific messaging, noting that it can create space for misinformation to flourish. He emphasized that “the time for science is not that of decision-making,” and that political leaders ultimately bear duty for choices made under conditions of uncertainty. [1]
Professor Buisson was a member of the sponsorship committee of Afis and its journal Science et pseudo-sciences since April 2022. Afis has extended its sincere condolences to his wife, Blandine, his children, and family.
His passing represents a significant loss to the global health community.
[1] Bush Y, “Scientific inadequacies during Covid-19” Science and pseudo-sciences, n°339 (january 2022).https://www.afis.org/Les-insuffisances-scientifiques-pendant-la-Covid-19
