On December 7-8, 2023 the IV International Scientific and Practical Conference «Countering the new coronavirus infection and other infectious diseases» (further – Conference) took place. It was organized by Rospotrebnadzor and brought together more than 300 participants from 31 countries, more than 1,500 people joined the online broadcast. The Conference was attended by representatives of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Central and Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, 8 international organizations, including the World Health Organization and the CIS Executive Committee, dealing with the diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases, as well as assessment of the socio-economic aspects of the impact of emergency situations of a sanitary and epidemiological nature on the life of society.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that successfully combating infectious diseases requires consolidation of specialists’ efforts not only in the healthcare sector - epidemiologists, virologists, microbiologists, immunologists, but also other profiles, among others economists, sociologists and others.
During 2 plenary sessions, 5 sectional parallel sessions and 3 round tables, there were presented 66 reports and discussed approaches and effectiveness of responses to epidemics and evolution of infectious threats; using new tools in epidemiological surveillance - genomic surveillance, monitoring population immunity, big data technologies and artificial intelligence.
Delegates from Russia, China, India, Vietnam, Venezuela presented the latest results in the field of fundamental research on immunology of viral infections, studying clinical aspects and developing new drugs for their prevention and treatment.
The Conference participants stated that the effectiveness of fighting against infectious diseases depends on the combined efforts of specialists from various fields of activity and international cooperation.
The Conference participants:
- Pointed to the need for scientific analysis and assessment of the effectiveness of measures to respond to epidemics, not only from the point of view of the impact on the spread of infection, but also possible socio-economic consequences.
- Examined the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in various spheres of society: medical, economic, communication, psychological and other humanitarian aspects.
- Confirmed the necessity of creating national biobanks, genomic data banks and interactive catalogs as the basis for vaccines and diagnostic drugs development.
- Emphasized the need of using new epidemiological surveillance tools: big data technology, genomic surveillance, artificial intelligence and other information technologies.
- Noted the importance of monitoring population immunity, based on the latest results of fundamental research in the field of immunology of viral infections in predicting the epidemiological situation.
- Emphasized the need of developing specific antiviral target-oriented and pathogenetic therapy for viral infections using new strategies and platforms.
- Confirmed the importance of joining forces and international cooperation in combating COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
The Conference participants highly appreciated the organization of the event, expressed gratitude for the rich program, openness of dialogue and the opportunity of exchanging experience on current topics.
