2nd South Asian Melioidosis Congress in Colombo 29 to 30 August

Melioidosis has recently been shown to be endemic in Sri Lanka and the number of diagnosed cases is increasing exponentially. The Sri Lanka Medical Association Oration for 2016 was on this topic. However, awareness regarding this important infection is low among clinicians.

The Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, partnering with the National Science Foundation, hosts an international conference, the 2nd South Asian Melioidosis Congress, at the King’s Court, Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel on 29 and 30 August. As its name implies, this is the second congress on Melioidosis to be held in this region, involving countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. In keeping with its theme, ‘Unearthing a subterranean infection’, the aim of the Congress is to raise awareness about melioidosis, a disease frequently mis-or under-diagnosed in the region. 

Revealing the hidden burden of infection requires the co-operation of a network of microbiologists, epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, and public health personnel. The 2nd South Asian Melioidosis Congress will allow researchers and clinical personnel meet and learn from global experts on the disease and develop collaborations within and between countries in the region and groups overseas with the ultimate goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality of this potentially fatal infection.

The objectives of the 2nd South Asian Melioidosis Congress are to raise awareness among clinicians, public health personnel, policy makers and the public of the burden of disease caused by melioidosis in South Asia,  to disseminate knowledge and skills pertaining to melioidosis within the South Asian region, to promote basic and applied research in melioidosis and to promote collaboration among clinicians and researchers in the region to study the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, management and prevention and control of melioidosis.

There will be 18 international speakers and two local speakers at these sessions. We are expecting 100 Sri Lankan, 50 South Asian and 50 other foreign participants to attend and benefit from this Congress. The target audience for the Congress includes clinical microbiologists, other clinicians, infectious disease specialists, laboratory personnel, epidemiologists, public health personnel, veterinarians, policy makers and researchers in infectious diseases. This Congress will give doctors in Sri Lanka and the region an opportunity to update their knowledge by listening to world renowned experts and is of national level importance and is certain to attract international interest.

A galaxy of 21 renowned experts in melioidosis will be addressing the Congress including Dr. David Dance, Senior Clinical Research Fellow/Consultant Microbiologist, Lao Oxford Mahosot Hospital Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Lao PDR/Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, UK and Dr. Direk Limmathurotsakul, Head of Microbiology at the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Mahidol University, Thailand.

The academic program consists of a series of lectures delivered by world renowned experts in all areas of melioidosis including history, epidemiology, clinical presentation, immune response, laboratory diagnosis, soil surveillance, etc. International speakers from the USA, Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Thailand, India and Bangladesh will be resource persons at this conference.

This conference will provide a unique opportunity to meet and network with researchers and clinicians in the field of meliodiosis.

The Chief Guest at the opening ceremony on 29th will be Dr. Razia Pendse, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka. The detailed program can be accessed on the conference website www.samc2017.org.

This conference will provide a unique opportunity to meet and network with researchers and clinicians in the field of meliodiosis.

Visit https://samc2017.org/en/ for more information.