Early detection and characterization of new emerging pathogens  

 

 

Emerging infectious diseases (EID) are defined as infectious diseases that are newly recognized in a population or have existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range. Such pathogens are often not detected in the standard surveillance systems in place in different countries  However, once they are found, we need to understand as quickly as possible what their potential is for infecting different species, transmitting among and between species, and causing serious disease. The risk for human health needs to be assessed as soon as possible, and in many cases the risk for animals and the ecosystems in which they live as well.

 

Olli Vapalahti is a specialist in Clinical Microbiology and a professor of zoonotic virology at the University of Helsinki. Here he runs a research unit of Viral Zoonoses together with 6 other PIs at the Medical and Veterinary Faculties. Olli is also involved in diagnostic work at Helsinki University Hospital Diagnostic Centre. The research Olli does focuses on targeting particularly sero- and molecular eco-epidemiology, disease associations, diagnostics, and host-virus associations of zoonotic and arboviruses. Recently there was some divergence towards a certain coronavirus. 

 

Research challenges include the development of effective surveillance systems or tools that allow for the detection of previously unknown or underrecognized pathogens, and the implementation of accurate, fast and sensitive detection methods. What will be the best sampling strategies and what will be the best matrices to focus on?  Once pathogens are detected, they need to be characterized to elucidate their relevance in causing diseases and their ability to spread within and between species. For this session we welcome presentations on the state of the art of the detection of newly emerging pathogens, and for characterizing them.  

 

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