Last week the University of Liverpool hosted veterinary public health experts from across Europe for the European College of Veterinary Public Health’s Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Organised by Dr John Tulloch from the Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, the conference attracted over 150 delegates both in person and online and centred on the theme ‘Getting ahead of the risks: strategies to avoid known and unknown risks’.
It featured a wide range of speakers from across academia and the public sector. Presentations highlighted a range of topics including One Health, translating risk to policy makers, foodborne hazards and food hygiene behaviours.
The opening session featured a keynote speech by Professor Lucy Easthope entitled ‘Considering animals in international disaster planning’. Lucy is the author of 'When the Dust Settles' and a world-leading authority on recovering from disaster.
Representatives from the UK Health Security Agency presented research into zoonosis, including case studies in human public health to zoonotic outbreaks and risks, as well as understanding human behaviour to mitigate zoonotic risks.
Liverpool research was also represented with talks from veterinary Residents Keli Gerken and Sarah Seery. Dr Genever Morgan highlighted the risks of raw meat diets to dogs and Dr Emanuele Ricci and Professor Lorenzo Ressel delivered a workshop on 3D models for macroscopic veterinary pathology. Drs Rebecca Smith and Tamzin Furtado also delivered a pre-conference workshop, introducing veterinary qualitative research.
During the AGM, Dr Dragan Antic, Department of Livestock and One Health, was elected to join the ECVPH Council and will take up the role of Chair of the Education Committee. The primary objective of ECVPH is to advance veterinary public health and its subspecialties, population medicine and food science in Europe and to increase the competence of those who are active in these fields.
Dr John Tulloch said: "Firstly, I’d like to thank the School of Veterinary Sciences’ Veterinary Public Health team who helped to make it such a fantastic event.
"We have received great feedback from the delegates, who enjoyed the diverse programme and social events. It was wonderful to showcase research from the School of Veterinary Sciences, and to highlight what the University and the city has to offer."
Delegates received a warm Liverpool welcome with a drinks reception at the Victoria Gallery & Museum. The good weather held for the main social event on the Mersey Ferry, where delegates were treated to dinner and live music.