5th BfR-Symposium "Foodborne Viruses"
The 1-day scientific symposium will cover different aspects of viruses that are transmitted via food or fomites. The event welcomes anyone from scientific institutes, investigation offices and surveillance authorities of German-speaking regions, who is interested in the topic. Different aspects ranging from basic to applied science of the viruses of interest (e.g. norovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, coronavirus) will be covered. Among others, the topics include: Diagnostic methods / viral typing / hygiene / tenacity / inactivation and disinfection / epidemiology / disease outbreaks / legal assessment of virus detection.
Diseases caused by foodborne viruses play an increasingly important role in consumer health protection. Every year, there are over 3,000 notified hepatitis E cases in Germany. The majority of these cases is presumably caused by the zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus from domestic pigs or wild boars to humans via consumption of food products made from infected animals. Foodborne infections with noroviruses and hepatitis A virus also play an important role in public health. Additionally, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic raised questions regarding the transmission of coronaviruses via food products or objects of daily use. Despite significant progress in the development of diagnostic methods to detect viruses in food, there is still a significant need for research in order to improve the identification of transmission pathways and take measurements to prevent disease outbreaks.
The 5th BfR-Symposium on 'Foodborne Viruses' represents a platform to hear about new data, exchange ideas and discuss different aspects of viruses in food, such as the current epidemiological situation, novel diagnostic methods or opportunities to improve hygiene measurements. The symposium also creates an opportunity to network with peers and facilitate cooperation.
For more information please visit our German website.