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Dr. Nancy J. Cox (1948-2026) was a renowned virologist, influenza expert and former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leader.  Cox was a global leader in influenza research and public health who died April 23, 2026 from glioblastoma.  She served as the Director of the Influenza Division at the CDC from 2006 to 2014.  This division team, under her leadership, grew from 14 people to a large division of over 100 staff members. Cox directed the 'WHO Collaborating Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Control of Influenza' at the US CDC.  She was also a principal architect of the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), a global science initiative established in 2008 to provide access to genomic data of influenza viruses.  This initiative transformed how scientists globally and rapidly share viral genetic data.  Cox spearheaded international responses to major influenza outbreaks, notably including the 1997 H5N1 avian flu scare and the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.  Dr. Cox earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and a PhD (in virology) from the University of Cambridge.

 

Two, of several, extraordinary dedicated professional One Health/public health leaders who formerly worked with Dr. Cox in their scientific capacities were: Joseph F. Annelli, DVM, MS, Executive Vice President,  National Association of Federal Veterinarians (NAFV) and Marguerite Pappaioanou, DVM, MPVM, PhD.  Drs. Annelli and Pappaioanou strongly advocate for honoring Dr. Cox and her monumental contributions to the One Health concept/approach.

 

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For more general national and international One Health information, see:

https://www.onehealthcommission.org/

 

Editor’s Footnote:  Pertinent to this commentary is Will veterinary medicine transform itself to meet today’s critical One Health challenges and remain relevant to societal needs and true to its oath?