Plague Island

Come with us on a journey to the "Alcatraz for viruses" just off the coast of Germany on the Baltic Sea.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives and brought the world to a complete standstill. The SARS-CoV-2 is not the first virus to spread from animals to humans – nor will it be the last. There are new viruses spreading throughout the globe constantly; diseases that were previously only found in tropical countries are being found in countries far away. On the island of Riems, just off the coast of Germany on the Baltic Sea, lies the oldest virus research center in the world. It is here, at the “Alcatraz for viruses,” where researchers are determined to combat the growing virus threat. This institution houses an international collective of highly specialized experts from all over the world, including the UK, Namibia, Turkey, and France. How safe are we from the next pandemic?