Pasteur Network expressed its concern over reported damage to Pasteur Institute of Iran
10 April 2026 Asia-Pacific
Press Release
The Pasteur Network expresses its concern regarding reported damage to facilities at the Pasteur Institute of Iran and notes the potential impact of recent events in Tehran on a major public health and scientific institution. International scientific reporting, including coverage inScienceMagazine, has highlighted the effects of escalating hostilities on universities and research institutions in Iran, including impacts on academic and public health infrastructure.
Founded in 1920, the Pasteur Institute of Iran is a longstanding member of the Pasteur Network. The Institute contributes to national, regional and global public health through its national reference laboratories, WHO Collaborating Centers, disease surveillance and diagnostics, biobanks, and essential medical countermeasures production.
Damage to or disruption of such infrastructure may have consequences beyond national borders. When public health institutes and surveillance systems are affected, outbreak detection capacity can be reduced, essential public health functions may be disrupted, and preparedness for emerging infectious threats may be weakened. These challenges are directly linked to broader considerations of regional and global health security.
The protection of health and scientific institutions is widely recognized as important for safeguarding essential public health functions, particularly in times of crisis. Maintaining the continuity of such institutions supports not only national health systems but also collective efforts to prevent and respond to cross-border health threats.
Mario Moreira, President of the Pasteur Network, stated: “The reported damage to the Pasteur Institute of Iran is deeply concerning. This institution plays an important role in supporting the health of populations in Iran and the region. When such capacities are disrupted, diagnostics, surveillance, and response to ongoing and emerging threats may be affected, with potential implications for health security beyond national borders.”
The Pasteur Network notes the increasing international attention to the protection of health and scientific institutions and commends the efforts of the Pasteur Institute of Iran’s staff to maintain essential diagnostic and public health functions under challenging circumstances.
The Pasteur Network expresses its support for its colleagues at the Pasteur Institute of Iran and reaffirms its commitment to the continuity of critical public health functions, scientific cooperation and the protection of health and research institutions worldwide.
