DescriptionFor this episode of ECDC on Air, we sit down with ECDC’s expert in genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics – Theresa Enkirch. Theresa gives us an overview of what genetic epidemiologists and bioinformaticians do and how that has changed the current epidemiological world. She also talks about a brand new ECDC course – the GenEpiBioTrain – that can properly boost one’s knowledge about all matters regarding bioinformatics and genetic epidemiology. Want to know more? Check the ECDC’s Virtual Academy for the courses: https://eva.ecdc.europa.eu You can find more information about ECDC ..read more

Every year ⁠World AIDS Day⁠ is marked on the 1st of December. Beginning in 1988 as the first-ever international day for global health, it is now in its 35th year. We sat down with Anastasia Pharris, Principal expert in Communicable Diseases, to discuss the latest joint ECDC-WHO Europe HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe report to take stock of where Europe stands with the latest developments, challenges, and achievements. As a part of World AIDS Day, ECDC will host a digital event on ⁠HIV: Towards zero stigma⁠ on the 6th of December 2023. The event is open to the public and will focus on the recen ..read more

Is the artificial intelligence going to take our jobs? Or will it change the daily work of the ECDC experts looking for epidemic signals? Perhaps it already does? In this episode we sit down for a chat with Gianfranco Spiteri - ECDC's Group Leader in the Epidemic Intelligence team to take a look at the recent AI developments and what the new tools can bring to his daily work. Find more information about ECDC's work on our portal here: ecdc.europa.eu ..read more

Joaquin Baruch who was part of the ECDC Fellowship Programme for epidemiologists - EPIET - talks to us about his experiences as a fellow in Malta, as well as doing field work in places such as Western Sahara, Algeria and Mozambique. This episode was recorded during ESCAIDE 2022, and is aired to mark the World Field Epidemiology Day on 7 September. If you are interested in applying for the ECDC fellowship programmes for epidemiologists and microbiologists, please click here. Be sure to check out the Disease Detectives - an ECDC: on Air episode featuring an interview with ECDC’s Head of Fellows ..read more

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Have you ever wondered how substances of human origin (SoHo) - blood, tissues, cells, organs - can be used in medical therapies? In this episode, ECDCs SoHo Team talks about the lifesaving medical benefits that SoHos can bring and the measures to ensure that they are used safely. The team also gives an overview of the legislation and regulation at EU-level as well as the importance of cross-border co-operation. To learn more about the substances of human origin and the role ECDC plays in keeping them safe click here. For general information about ECDC, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠ecdc.europa.eu ..read more

On this episode we are speaking with Georgios Theocharopoulos, Scientific Officer for Emergency Preparedness and Response, to discuss ECDC4AfricaCDC, a four-year capacity- and partnership-building project between ECDC and Africa CDC. You can find more information on the ECDC4AfricaCDC project here. For general information about ECDC, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠ecdc.europa.eu⁠⁠⁠⁠, or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠social media ..read more

With the pandemic lessons in mind, steps are taken for Europe to be stronger and better prepared to tackle current and emerging threats of infectious diseases. ECDC’s new reinforced mandate gives the agency a stronger role to support the EU Member States with surveillance, joint preparedness and response planning and issue stronger guidance during emergencies. Orla Condell, an Emergency Preparedness and Response expert from ECDC, shares in this episode her insights on the process of building an EU Health Task Force to mobilise and deploy outbreak assistance teams and to strengthen preparedness ..read more

It's 5 May and we mark today the World Hand Hygiene Day. Hand hygiene or simply - hand washing is one of the simplest, yet most important and effective measure to lower the chances of catching or spreading infectious diseases in public spaces and in healthcare settings! We asked ECDC's expert in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections - Diamantis Plachouras to tell us a bit more about the matter - so wash your hands, put your headphones or speakers on, and listen in! For more on hand hygiene, visit our World #HandHygieneDay dedicated page ⁠here⁠. For general informatio ..read more

European Immunization Week (EIW) is marked across Europe every year in the final week of April. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation for the general health and well-being of the European and wider population. To mark the start of EIW, we have invited the ECDC's Deputy Chief Scientist - Piotr Kramarz to talk about the importance of vaccination, the hurdles and current issues we need to overcome. You can find ECDC's information on vaccines here. For general information about ECDC, please visit ⁠ecdc.europa.eu⁠, or follow us on ⁠social media ..read more