Attendance sponsorship – IV International Conference on Bluetongue

Summary

This conference was held in Rome Italy between 5-7 November 2014 and was attended by more 300 delegates representing 38 countries. There was a wide international participation with representatives from most bluetongue affected countries. There were 11 Australian delegates (4 from CSIRO AAHL, 1 from DAAG, Canberra, 4 from EMAI, NSW and 2 from the NT (Dr L. Melville, Berrimah Laboratory and Dr G. Bellis NAQS & NAMP reference entomologist).  The travel of 5 of the attendees was supported by travel grants from Livecorp and MLA.

The aims of the conference were:To update the scientific community and policymakers and to disseminate knowledge arising from the research conducted during the past 10 years on bluetongue and the infections caused by orbiviruses.

To strengthen the network of diagnostic laboratories under the auspices of the OIE.To capitalize on the advantages produced by the III International Conference on Bluetongue – which substantially induced important changes in the approach to animal movement regulations – and at the same time to define new recommendations for international organisations, the European Union, the OIE member countries