Priority setting of foodborne and zoonotic pathogens

The conference will address:

• methods to integrate data on incidence of morbidity and mortality, on attribution to different sources of exposure and on social valuation
• the data availability for such studies, identify key data gaps and foster international collaboration.
• the need for and possible approaches to priority setting
• incidence and outcomes of gastro-enteritis and other non-enteric foodborne disease, attribution of foodborne illness to different sources, integrated disease burden and economic indicators, data integration  and emerging infections
• research and data needs and possibilities for international collaboration

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View conference programme (updated 30/03/06)

Register for conference (word doc) (updated 23/05/06)

Deadline for submission of poster abstracts - 30 April 2006

General Notes

Conference addresses all infectious agents, including bacterial toxins with acute effects. Not mycotoxins as their mode of action is very different and the main concern is chronic exposure. The conference addresses all foods, so in addition to meat, meat products and eggs also produce, shellfish etc.

Conference will address both scientific issues as well as possibilities for international cooperation. May also serve to raise awareness of the process of risk-based priority setting. The conference will not aim to set the priorities, but will discuss methods and data, including the identification of key data gaps. Although interaction with policy makers is important, the focus will be on the scientific aspects.

There is a need to standardize terminology, but the time is too short to spend much time in breakout groups to discuss such issues. May be identified as important follow-up activities.

The aim is approximately 100 participants, more can be accommodated if necessary. Participants are expected to have a scientific background or relevant policy background in food safety and control of zoonosed and can be working in academia, research institutes, federal institutes industry or public interest organizations.The core group of participants will be by invitation through MED-VET-NET and the Food Safety Research Consortium. The meeting will be open to all other interested participants, but will not be very actively announced. MVN and FSRC websites are the main sources of communication, selected persons or groups will be actively approached. This will include representatives from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. Also, WHO will be invited to participate.

Proceedings

Extended abstracts available during the conference in printed version or on CD-ROM and on MED-VET-NET and FSRC website, summary paper with key conclusions in a peer-reviewed journal, to be written by the organizing committee after the conference. Rapporteurs: Mike Batz, Marie-Josée Mangen, Elke Stellbrink.