The Avian Influenza Symposium 2024 was hosted by the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from December 10th to 12th. This symposium convened leading scientists, public health experts, and policymakers to address one of the most pressing zoonotic challenges of our time. The event commenced with welcome remarks from a representative of the Minister of Health of Cambodia and Prof. André Spiegel, Director of IPC, highlighting the institute’s commitment to public health and the promotion of global partnerships. Dr. Rebecca Grais, Executive Director of the Pasteur Network, further emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing research and public health responses. These opening speeches set the stage for a series of discussions aimed at bridging science, policy, and practice. A central theme of the symposium was the One Health approach, which is an integrated and multidisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. It emphasizes collaboration across different sectors to address challenges that affect global health and ecosystems. Key issues included the identification of ethical regulations related to influenza research and adopting common strategies to develop scientific collaborations.

 

Two faculty members from the Virology Group of the Pasteur Institute of Iran participated in the symposium. Prof. Amir Ghaemi from the Department of Influenza and Other Viral Respiratory Infections emphasized approaches for health management of avian influenza in diverse ecosystems in his two presentations titled “Vaccination Program and Prevalence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Iran” and “Detection of Anti-H5 Antibodies in Vaccinated Chickens Using Influenza Retroviral Pseudotype System.” Dr. Asghar Abdoli, an Associate Professor in the Department of Hepatitis and AIDS underscored the importance of avian flu research in Iran and the readiness of the Pasteur Institute of Iran for collaborative research projects on this topic in his presentation titled “Targeted Vaccination Against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses.”

 

In addition to the presentations, the symposium featured interactive workshops designed to foster collaboration and address critical challenges in influenza research and implementation. The event concluded with a unified vision for advancing influenza research and prevention. Participants noted that while challenges persist, the partnerships formed and knowledge exchanged during the symposium provide a strong foundation for addressing avian influenza on both regional and global scales.

News link: https://pasteur-network.org/news/united-front-against-avian-influenza-insights-and-strategies-from-the-pasteur-network-asia-pacific-symposium