It is critically important that Africa hosts its own indigenous strategic meetings to address and define response mechanism to biological threats and increasing incidences of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Through these processes an alignment should occur with the Biological Weapons Convention, UN SCR 1540, Global Partnership Program (GPP), Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and the “One Health” paradigms developed by the WHO, OIE and FAO. Essentially how do we prepare for the next pandemic learning on the devastating lessons from past outbreaks of dangerous pathogens.

The specific objectives of the conference are:

• Share experience, best practices and challenges in addressing emerging infectious diseases
• Share experiences and challenges in addressing biosecurity concern in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak
• Opportunity to present latest breaking research and collaboration on Ebola diseases and other emerging infectious diseases in Africa
• Identify regional and international opportunities for collaboration towards the management, prevention and control of emerging infectious disease
• To Advance the discussion on a Vaccine Strategy for the Ebola belt of Africa
• Open a discussion on Science communication and its role in preventing and curtailing opportunities for public health crises emanating from EID
• Discuss challenges associated with Handling and Processing EID Biospecimen in BSL3 and BSL4 Infrastructure in Africa Open discussion on Africa cultural practices and community engagement in managing infectious diseases in Africa.

Click on the images below to view the first announcement of the 5th African Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases & Biosecurity