Diseases caused by foodborne viruses play an increasingly important role in consumer health protection. Every year, there are over 3,000 notified hepatitis E cases in Germany. The majority of these cases is presumably caused by the zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus from domestic pigs or wild boars to humans via consumption of food products made from infected animals. Foodborne infections with noroviruses and hepatitis A virus also play an important role in public health. Additionally, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic raised questions regarding the transmission of coronaviruses via food products or objects of daily use. Despite significant progress in the development of diagnostic methods to detect viruses in food, there is still a significant need for research in order to improve the identification of transmission pathways and take measurements to prevent disease outbreaks.

The 5^th BfR-Symposium on ‘Foodborne Viruses’ represents a platform to hear about new data, exchange ideas and discuss different aspects of viruses in food, such as the current epidemiological situation, novel diagnostic methods or opportunities to improve hygiene measurements. The symposium also creates an opportunity to network with peers and facilitate cooperation.

Programme preview:
Two keynote presentations about Viruses in Shellfish (Dr Soizick Le Guyader, IFREMER, France) and Hepatitis E Virus Infection from a Clinical Perspective (PD Dr Sven Pischke, UKE, Hamburg) as well as several invited presentations in the three sessions Epidemiology and Disease Outbreaks, Diagnostic Methods, and Hygiene and Inactivation are planned.

The event will be held in German and English with simultaneous translation.

For more information please visit our German website.

German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
Lecture Hall
Diedersdorfer Weg 1
12277 Berlin
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