Dr. John Nkengasong, born in Douala, Cameroon, serves as the first director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a leading virologist with nearly 30 years of work experience in public health. Prior to his appointment at Africa CDC, he was acting deputy principal director of the Center for Global Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He was recently included on Time's list of the most influential people of 2021.