SARS-CoV-2 Origin Tracing - key findings from first mission 'back to where it all started'....

We would like to invite you to this week’s (Zoom) Colloquium on

Friday, May 21 at 3:15 PM

Speaker: Thea Kølsen Fischer (Univ. of Copenhagen)

Title: SARS-CoV-2 Origin Tracing – key findings from first mission ‘back to where it all started’….

Abstract: In May 2020, the World Health Assembly requested the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), as part of the One Health approach, to identify the zoonotic source of the SARS-CoV-2 and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts. The aim is to prevent both reinfection with the virus in animals and humans and the establishment of new zoonotic reservoirs, thereby reducing further risks of the emergence and transmission of zoonotic diseases. WHO convened a team of 10 international experts, and the teams’ first mission was to travel to Wuhan and complete a thorough review of ‘Phase 1’ origin tracing studies undertaken and led by China Center for Disease Control. The first mission to Wuhan was completed by the International Team under the zoom of the world media lens during 28 days in January and February 2021, and the outcome published in a 120 page long report on March 30, 2021. During this colloquium presentation, the key findings will be presented by the Danish member of the International Team, Prof Thea K Fischer, along with the main recommendations and next steps in the work with SARS-CoV-2 origin tracing.

Brief bio-sketch: Thea Kølsen Fischer, MD, DMSc, MPG is Director of Clinical Research at Northern Zealand Hospital and Professor at University of Copenhagen in public health, virus infections and epidemics. She is specialized in public health and virology and has previously served as head of the national virology surveillance and research laboratories at Statens Serum Institut (SSI). She is one of 3 Danes who have completed the 2-year training program as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer in epidemic control at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, USA and has participated in outbreak investigations globally for CDC and WHO, incl. SARS-CoV-2 Origin Tracing.

To participate on Friday, click on

https://ucph-ku.zoom.us/j/61333932427

The colloquium will be introduced and moderated by Mogens Høgh Jensen and we strongly encourage you to participate actively by asking questions during the talk. Mogens will briefly remind you how this can be done just before the colloquium starts.