Objectives /    Learning Outcomes  

After completing watching these video materials the participants of the ELDSNet June 2021 meeting will be able to:

• Be familiar of the key findings from the ECDC Legionella EQA scheme 2020
• Be aware of the key findings on Legionella surveillance in France in 2020
• Be aware of the key findings on Legionella surveillance in Denmark in 2020
• Be informed about the upcoming changes in the use of EPIS ELDSNet and EpiPulse.

Target audience  

The materials are specifically prepared and exclusively available to Legionella experts members of ELDSNet.

Description  

Objectives /    Learning Outcomes  

By watching these video materials and reading the available documents the participants of the ELDSNet October 2021 meeting will:

• Learn about investigation on a LD outbreak in France with an unusual source of contamination
• Learn about the proposal to update the EU surveillance case definition for LD
• Be familiar of the key findings from the ECDC Legionella EQA scheme 2021
• Get an overview of Directive 2020/2184 on water intended for human consumption (DWD)
• Learn about technical implementation of the DWD for environmental testing for Legionella

Target audience  

The materials are specifically prepared and exclusively available to the participants of ELDSNet October 2021 meeting 

Description  

Location  

TBD

Objectives /    Learning Outcomes  

Target audience  

TBD

Description  

Location  

TBD

Objectives /    Learning Outcomes  

The final objectives of the training will be agreed upon by ECDC and EFSA based on the assessment of the training needs.

Target audience  

The target participants for this training will be public health or animal health experts from the EU/EEA countries, the EU Enlargement countries and the European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries. The participants will be selected following ECDC and/or EFSA procedures, through contacts with national focal points/network members. The number of participants or trainings will depend on the needs and the available resources.

Description  

Dates/duration

February 2021/1 day

Location

Instructor-led web-based course

Objectives/learning outcomes

Upon completion of the remote on-line training, participants will be able to:

• understand the definition of resistant and susceptible strains and the principles on which proportional method for drug susceptibility testing is based;
• define key concepts related to drug susceptibility testing;
• familiarise with the criteria for determining critical concentrations to test new compounds;
• familiarise with the latest WHO recommendations on MDR-TB and Isoniazid resistant TB treatment;
• understand the role of drug susceptibility testing for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in clinical practice.

Target audience

Participants identified within the network. TB laboratory mid and senior level experts with at least three years of experience working on TB and/or in a microbiology laboratory.

Description

This training seeks to strengthen capacity in Member States with regard to the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The program is developed under the European Reference Laboratory Network for Tuberculosis (ERLTB-Net, ECDC/GRANT/2018/001) by the consortium of partners managing the implementation of activities based on the network’s identified needs. Specifically, this course will cover advanced topics in TB laboratory diagnostics, focusing primarily on phenotypic-based drug susceptibility testing for both M. tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs). This course will provide participants with an overview of the most recent developments in this field, including the latest WHO recommendations on the critical concentrations and clinical breakpoints used for DST and the utility of using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the clinical management of TB patients. This course will also cover the role of drug susceptibility testing in the clinical management of NTM-associated pulmonary disease.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration

March 2021 / 2 days

Location

Practical training at San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy (depending on the COVID-19 situation)

Objectives/learning outcomes

Upon completion of the practical training, participants will be able to:

• perform phenotypic-based drug susceptibility testing (DST) to new and repurposed drugs for MDR-TB treatment;
• interpret reports from automated systems for DST by using standard and/or extended DST protocols;
• perform MIC testing for M. tuberculosis using the microdilution methodology;
• describe the main methodologies used for NTM identification
• familiarise with the methodologies used for drug susceptibility testing of NTMs.

Target audience

Participants identified within the network. TB laboratory mid and senior level experts with at least three years of experience working on TB and/or in a microbiology laboratory.

Description

This training seeks to strengthen capacity in Member States with regard to the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The program is developed under the European Reference Laboratory Network for Tuberculosis (ERLTB-Net, ECDC/GRANT/2018/001), by the consortium of partners managing the implementation of activities based on identified needs of the network. Specifically, this course will cover advanced topics in TB laboratory diagnostics focusing primarily on phenotypic-based drug susceptibility testing (DST) for both M. tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs). In this practical training, participants will have the opportunity to perform DST for new and repurposed anti-TB drugs, and MIC testing using both 96-wells microtiter plates and BACTEC Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960 system. In addition, the workshop will include a panel discussion in which participants will have the opportunity to share experience and considerations on the implementation of new TB tests into laboratory algorithms, on the impact of new tests on clinical decision-making and therapeutic choices, and on the cost-effectiveness in routine programmatic settings.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration  

1 & 2 September 2021 

Location  

This will be an instructor-led web-based course

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

By the end of the course the participants will be able to:

• Understand the roles, responsibilities and expectations for supervising fellows in a competency-based fellowship programme
• Understand the process of scientific review and be able to use the relevant tools to provide scientific feedback on a draft manuscript
• Understand how to handle social media for public health including managing ‘infodemics’

Target audience  

The target audience for this course includes the Main Supervisors for the Fellowship Programme and the Main Supervisors for the MediPIET Programme.

Description  

The overall aim of this course is to strengthen scientific communication and provide a hands-on experience on how to support authors (e.g., fellows and supervisors) to improve their draft manuscripts.  

The course will include an introduction to the use of social media for public health including how to manage ‘infodemics’ as an element of scientific communication.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment and participation is through invitation. 

Dates/duration

June 2021/10 days

Location  

More information will be provided.

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

After this course, the participants will be able to understand the steps of epidemic intelligence, perform early threat detection and develop SOP on a national level.

Target audience  

Professionals at local, regional or national level (public health institutes and ministerial level) with a public health background who are already familiar and have experience with the tools, standards and practices adopted at technical level for early detection of health threats.

Description  

This advanced course will focus on development of epidemic intelligence Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on a national level. This will include a training for a better understanding of epidemic intelligence processes in the context of the country of interest, an outline for the SOP, as well as understanding of necessary arrangements for regular documentation and reporting to national public health authorities.

During this course, the participants will be provided with theoretical background, followed by practical part, which involves exercises in smaller groups and shadowing sessions of ECDC’s epidemic intelligence experts.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration  

Q3/1.5 to 2 days

Location  

Stockholm or conducted remotely via video conferencing.

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

After completing this course, the participants will be able to:

• recognise components (steps) involved in conducting a rapid risk assessment;
• describe what is expected to be done in each step;
• produce a rapid risk assessment within a team setting. 

Target audience  

Public Health professionals from the ECDC response networks. 

Description  

This course will focus on the basics in deciding, planning, conducting and generating rapid risk assessments through the introduction of concepts, principles and succession of actions. At the end of the course, the participant will have sufficient knowledge and basic skills to be involved in a team producing rapid risk assessments. The course will follow the model of ‘introduce, demonstrate, exercise and reflect’.

The course consists of a theoretical part and a group exercise aiming at producing the essential parts of a rapid risk assessment based on a real-life public health event.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration  

Q 3 / 2-3 days

Location  

Cluj-Napoca, Romania (or via video conferencing)

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

In a One Health approach, the training will provide basic knowledge about entomology to support the assessment of events.

Target audience 

Public health experts and animal health experts from EU/EEA Member States will be invited. 

Description  

More information about the course will be provided at a later date.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration  

Q3/4/TBD

Location  

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (or via video conferencing)

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

After completing this course, the participants will be able to:

• apply specific skills and techniques in detection, characterisation and isolation of influenza and other respiratory viruses;
• utilise specific knowledge on the bioinformatics of influenza and other respiratory viruses.  

Target audience 

One person per network laboratory and a maximum of 10 selected representatives of the national influenza reference laboratories from EU/EEA countries. 

Selection will be through the European Reference Laboratory Network for Human Influenza (ERLI-Net). 

Description  

Wet lab course focusing on virus detection, virus characterisation, virus isolation and bioinformatics.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration  

Q3/4/TBD

Location  

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (or via video conferencing)

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

After completing this course, the participants will be able to:

• apply specific skills and techniques in detection, characterisation and isolation of SARS-CoV-2;
• utilise specific knowledge on the bioinformatics of SARS-CoV-2.

Target audience 

One person per network laboratory and a maximum of 10 selected representatives of the national COVID-19 reference laboratories from EU/EEA countries. 

Selection will be through the European COVID-19 Reference Laboratory Network (ECOVID-LabNet). 

Description  

Wet lab course focusing on virus detection, virus characterisation, virus isolation and bioinformatics.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration

Q3-Q4/2-3 days

Location  

More information will be provided.

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

In a One Health approach, the training will provide basic knowledge about laboratory diagnostics to support the assessment of events.

Target audience  

Public health experts from EU/EEA Member States will be the primary audience. The course will be open to selected animal health experts from EU/EEA Member States.  

Description  

More information about the course will be provided at a later date.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration

Q3/Q4 - 5 days

Location  

 More information will be provided.

Objectives/intended learning outcomes  

After undertaking this course, participants will be able to understand:

• the process of early detection, validation and analysis of health threats, in identifying epidemic intelligence tools and platforms;
• cite examples of best practices on epidemic intelligence in prevention and control of communicable diseases;
• the basics in deciding, planning, conducting and generating rapid risk assessments through the introduction of concepts, principles and succession of actions.

At the end of the course, the participant will have sufficient knowledge and basic skills to be involved in a team producing rapid risk assessments for public health event caused by infectious diseases.

Target audience  

The target audience for this course will be professionals with a public health background working at local, regional or national level (Public Health Institutes and Ministerial level) who are involved in the early detection, monitoring and assessment of public health events have an interest in becoming familiar with the tools, standards and practices adopted at technical level for these purposes.

Description  

This course will combine the steps from the early detection of a signal through to the assessment of a public health event. The course will consist of a theoretical part and a group exercise from early detection to producing the essential parts of a rapid risk assessment based on a real-life event.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration

October 2021 / 4hours

Location

More information to be provided. 

Objectives/intended learning outcomes

This training is one of the building blocks of the preparedness courses. It is designed to inform those involved in coordinating the response to a public health emergency. Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

• determine the goals and objectives of the existing policies for infection control and treatment guidance
• determine the goals and objectives of the existing policies for population-based disease control
• understand the mechanisms for adapting and flexibly implementing infectious disease policies in a way that incorporates evolving scientific information during a disease outbreak.

Target audience

The target audience for this competency-based training are experts at the local, country or regional (international) levels working in public health preparedness who may act as operational leads designing and implementing the preparedness response strategy at national and if appropriate sub-national level.

Description

The training is part of a two modules course designed to inform those involved in coordinating the response to a public health emergency. Each module is a mixture of short lectures, scenario-based group discussions and interactive activities designed to address the learning objectives. The training will also include an introductory and evaluation session.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration

October 2021 / 4 hours

Location

More information to be provided.

Objectives/intended learning outcomes

This training is one of the building blocks of the preparedness courses. It is designed to inform those involved in coordinating the response to a public health emergency. After completing this training, the participants will be able to:

• understand and discuss how to address communication inequalities;
• use various sources of information to conduct dynamic listening and manage rumours;
• discuss the factors that affect the accuracy, transparency and timeliness of risk-communication and strategies to overcome potential barriers;
• discuss strategies that aim to foster and maintain trust during the ERC process.

Target audience

The target audience for this competency-based training are those experts at the local, country or regional (international) levels working in public health preparedness who may act as operational leads designing and implementing the preparedness response strategy at national and if appropriate sub-national level.

Description

The training is organised in two modules. The training will also include an introductory and evaluation session. The courses include a mixture of short lectures, scenario-based group discussions and interactive activities designed to address the learning objectives. Participation in module 1 is not a prerequisite to participate in module 2.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Dates/duration

1st February 2021

Location

Online webinar

Objectives/learning outcomes

Upon completion of this online training, the participants will be able to:

• Understand how to access TESSy;
• Understand how to submit data via TESSy;
• Provide clarification on the data to be submitted via TESSy. 

Target audience

This training is targeted for professionals who will be in charge of COVID-19 vaccine data. 

Description

This training is provided jointly by WHO/Europe and ECDC as part of the joint COVID-19 vaccine monitoring system where data submission will be done through TESSy. 

NB - participation in this course is by invitation only. 

Dates/duration

8-9 March 2021/2 days

Location

Instructor-led web-based course

Objectives/learning outcomes

Upon the completion of this training, the participants will be able to:

• apply isolation and characterisation of mycobacteria in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) when supporting public health initiatives (e.g. molecular typing)

• identify ways to coordinate national TB laboratory networks.

Target audience

Participants identified within the network. 

Description

The training seeks to strengthen capacity in the Member States with regard to laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis. The program will be developed under the European Reference Laboratory Network for Tuberculosis (ERLTB-Net; ECDC/GRANT/2018/001), by the consortium of partners managing the implementation of activities based on identified needs of the network.

Note: This course is not open for public enrolment. Participation is through invitation by the focal point of the respective disease programme or function areas which is guided by the framework of collaboration between ECDC and the Coordinating Competent Bodies of Member States. 

Location 

Stockholm, Sweden

Objectives / Learning Outcomes  

The scope of the course is to strengthen capacity in EU Member States and the European Economic Area (EEA) in the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in acute health care settings and to promote the broad implementation of appropriate measures in the EU. The objectives of the course are to encourage and promote team building of professionals with responsibilities and interest in prevention and control of HAIs and to share knowledge and best practices in the field of infection control.

Target audience  

The target audience are health care professionals from EU/EEA member states with current or future responsibility for prevention and control of HAIs working at national or local level. Typically, these are mid-career professionals involved in infection control programmes to prevent HAIs at hospital level: Infection control/hospital hygiene practitioners; Hospital physicians/specialist physicians; Hospital epidemiologists; Clinical microbiologists; Public health microbiologists.

Location

Objectives /    Learning Outcomes  

Upon completing this course, the participants will be able to: 

• Identify the latest scientific findings, guidelines and recommendations on active tuberculosis (TB) case finding in migrants. 
• Understand diverse experiences and good practices from different country approaches in active TB case finding in migrants. 
• Identify various approaches on how to overcome the challenges in active TB case finding in migrants. 

Target audience  

Professionals working in TB prevention and control who have the responsibility for screening policy and guidelines e.g. the NTP manager. The workshop is also aimed for those with actual experience in the organisation and implementation of active case finding e.g. public health physicians. 

The workshop will have a total of 18 participants from  Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain.

Description  

Location  

Stockholm, Sweden 

Objectives /    Learning Outcomes  

Upon completion of the workshop, the participants should be able to: 

• Understand the basics, strengths and limitations of microbial WGS and its applications for epidemiological and phenotypic inference in outbreak investigations and surveillance 
• Generate, describe and interpret phylogenetic trees in the context of epidemiological investigations
• Learn about and use online software tools available for WGS applications to national surveillance
• Based on the content of the workshop, prepare a dissemination activity to cascade learning and prepare routine application of WGS in their institutions

The training course covers 8 key areas:

• Basics of viral/bacterial genomics, genome structure and evolution
• Next Generation Sequencing technology overview
• Principles of sequence comparisons, SNP and MLST analysis
• Phylogeny: different types of trees, how to read a tree, terminology for branches and leaves
• Epidemiological and phenotypic inference from WGS data
• Public health benefits of real-time WGS-enhanced surveillance for outbreak detection and response
• How to establish a WGS-enhanced national surveillance system
• Outbreak Case studies (FWD, AMR) using online WGS/epidemiological data integrated analysis and visualisation tools 

Target audience  

The target audience is a mix of 20 trainees including pairs of epidemiologists in charge of surveillance and National Reference Laboratory (NRL) microbiology experts in charge of molecular surveillance in the 10 Member States that lack  Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) capability (NMFP 2017 survey) and/or have been asking specifically ECDC for opportunity to take WGS training (ECoSuM survey ...)

Description  

Location  

TBD

Objectives /    Learning Outcomes  

Upon the completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Determine the goals and objectives of the existing policies for infection control and treatment guidance. 
• Determine the goals and objectives of the existing policies for population-based disease control. 
• Understand the mechanisms for adapting and flexibly implementing infectious disease policies in a way that incorporates evolving scientific information during a disease outbreak.  

Target audience  

The target audience for this competency based training are those experts at the local, country or regional (international) levels working in public health preparedness who may act as operational leads designing and implementing the preparedness response strategy at national and if appropriate sub-national level. 

Description