The event started with welcome speech of Dr. Cristina Casalone, the scientific director of STOR office. She briefly summarized the role and strategies of STOR, then she presented the topic of the webinar “Biosafety and Biosecurity”. She demonstrated the importance and significance of the topic of webinar, particularly its impacts and beneficiary tool for protecting humans, livestock and environment from accidental or intentional exposure to infectious hazards. She emphasized the need raise attention and awareness, and active collaboration among Mediterranean countries. Finally, she expressed her gratitude to the speakers and introduced the moderators, Dr. Silvia Bellini and Dr. Thomas Binz.
The welcome speech was extended to WOAH REMESA secretariat in Tunisia, represented by Dr. Rachid Bouguedour, who welcomed the participants, thanked the STOR office and speakers, and appreciated the webinar’s topic. He confirmed the need for more webinars and activities to raise awareness of colleagues in Mediterranean countries and collaboration among them.
The webinar featured 6 different contributions, presented by the leading experts in this sector: Dr. Thomas Binz, Federal Office of Public Health -Switzerland; Dr. Jennifer Lasley, MPH; Dr. Silvia Bellini, IZSLER; Dr. Nadia Chérif, INSTM; Dr. Daniela Morelli, IZSAM; Dr. Domenico Galante, IZSPB.
About 160 participants from all REMESA members Countries attended the webinar virtually.
The event concluded with words of gratitude from Dr. Casalone and Dr. Rachid to the moderators, speakers and participants.
This webinar is part of a long-term timetable that includes a series of training events scheduled throughout the year, in order to pursue the final objective of the STOR: to strengthen the REMESA scientific network for exchange and connection between countries of the North Africa, Middle East and Europe in Mediterranean basin, to establish and share common guidelines and standards for preventing, monitoring and control emerging veterinary risks.
Over the past years, a broad spectrum of pathogenic agents, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, or genetically modified organisms, gained substantial concern due to their profound biological and ecological risks, as well as some that could be used as weapons of bioterrorism. Laboratory researchers, veterinary facilities workers, health care practitioners, and stockholders are at high risk of being exposed to such hazardous agents.
A growing attention is given to biosafety and containment of infectious agents due to the potentiality for bioterrorism and accidental escape of pandemic pathogens, particularly after the 2014 Ebola outbreak and extensive documentation of numerous cases of acquired infections causing disease and mortality among human and animal health professionals, and researchers.
Biosafety and Biosecurity are of vital importance since it is responsible for protecting human, livestock, and the environment, as well as aquaculture from accidental or intentional exposure to infectious pathogens. Biosafety and/or Biosecurity concepts comprise numerous strategic measures that may overlap each other but have the same target; safe handling and containment of infectious microorganisms and hazardous biological materials.
There is an increasing request among the global general public and scientific community for the need to frequent serious training of animal and human health employers and stockholders.
In addition, workshops are asked to be organized to let them know the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and human susceptibility of acquired infections.
Our organized webinar represents a great occasion and opportunity for participants from Mediterranean countries to gather much information and knowledge on this concern. As well as it will offer the chance for direct communication with some of the most global experts for biosafety and biosecurity procedures and recent approaches and recommendations in various sectors such as livestock, aquaculture, and environment.
Find the presentations at the links below:
WELCOME: Rachid Bouguedour, Cristina Casalone
THOMAS BINZ –BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY:
THE INTERNATIONAL EXPERT GROUP OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY REGULATORS. PPTX – VIDEO
JENNIFER LASLEY – SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL VETERINARY LABORATORY NETWORKS FOR IMPROVED
BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY.
SILVIA BELLINI – BIOSECURITY AND WOAH
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AS A TOOL FOR DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN LIVESTOCK. PPTX – VIDEO
DANIELA MORELLI – BIOSECURITY AND BIOSAFETY
IN CASE OF ARBOVIROSIS. PPTX – VIDEO
DOMENICO GALANTE – ENVIRONMENTAL BIOSECURITY: DETECTION OF BACILLUS ANTHRACIS SPORES FROM SOIL AND WATER TO EVALUATE THE LEVEL OF CONTAMINATION. PPTX – VIDEO
