ESCMID Global 2026 - Congress of the European Society of
 Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Congress of the ESCMID Global 2026 will take place from April 17 to 21, 2026, in Munich, Germany.

Main points

  • On the occasion of ESCMID Global 2026, ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases is organising a symposium co-organised with DZIF dedicated to the future of West Nile virus (WNV) research in Europe.
  • This Franco-German symposium will focus in particular on the development of joint research strategies and comparative studies on vector-borne diseases.
  • The symposium will take place on April 19 from 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in Hall A1-5.

ANRS MIE / DZIF Symposium

An ANRS MIE session, co-organised with the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), will be held on the theme “Shaping the future of West Nile virus research in Europe.”

This session will focus on defining the future research priorities for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Europe, emphasising the need for stronger European scientific collaboration. By convening experts from virology, entomology, ecology and climate research, clinical research, and public health, the session will explore how coordinated and complementary research efforts can accelerate our understanding of WNV dynamics and improve epidemic preparedness specifically in the European context.

A particular focus will be placed on France and Germany, where recent increases in WNV circulation highlight shared scientific challenges – from improving genomic surveillance and vector studies to refining clinical characterisation, modeling transmission, and evaluating innovative diagnostic and preventive tools. These two countries offer a unique opportunity to develop aligned research strategies and comparative studies that can benefit the wider European landscape of vector-borne diseases.

The overall objective is to outline a joint research agenda capable of supporting earlier detection, advancing mechanistic knowledge, and informing more effective interventions.

Programme

CHAIRS : Marylyn ADDO, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), german Center for Infection research (DZIF), Germany ; Eric D’ORTENZIO, ANRS Emerging infectious diseases, France ; Anna PAPA-KONIDARI, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Medical School, Greece

  • Introduction
  • Arboviruses in Europe: framing West Nile virus within an evolving epidemiological and preparedness landscape. Marion KOOPMANS, Erasmus MC, Netherlands
  • Paris under threat: a One Health investigation of the 2025 West Nile virus emergence. Laura PEZZI, National Reference Centre (NRC) for Arboviruses, France
  • Emergence and establishment of WNV in Germany. Christian DROSTEN, Institute of Virology, Charite Universitätsmedizin, Germany
  • Clinical aspects and management of neuroinvasive West Nile virus infection. Luisa BARZON, EU Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Vector-borne Viruses, Italy
  • Questions/answers with participants

ANRS MIE-funded research projects

Oral presentations

Coming soon

Posters

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