Infectious Diseases and HIV Conference

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in unprecedented millions of infections and deaths since it began late in 2019.

This session brings all aspects in breadth-hoping to describe pathogenesis, therapeutic advances, and public health approaches related to COVID-19-to openly share ongoing challenges and lessons learned for future pandemic preparedness.

Pathogenesis and clinical features: It now presents mainly as a respiratory infection, but progressively has been realized to be a multi-organ disease with a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even multi-organ failure.

The pathogenesis of how SARS-CoV-2 enters through the virus into the host cells via the ACE2 receptor, mechanisms for immune evasion and the inflammatory response that contributes to severe disease will be discussed.

The participants will also be educated on post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, now more recently termed ""long COVID"" and implications for long term health. Emerging Therapies, COVID-19 management has rapidly evolved from broad-based strategies targeting various phases of the disease.

This lecture will include antiviral therapy with remdesivir and molnupiravir, antibodies, monoclonal, and immunomodulatory agents, like corticosteroids and IL-6 inhibitors, targeted to modulate inflammation in cases critically severe. Supportive treatment such as oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation is also planned, along with more experimental approaches, such as convalescent plasma and novel antiviral combinations.

Vaccination and Prevention Strategies: Vaccination has been a cornerstone in the global response to COVID-19. This session will focus on vaccine platforms-mRNA, viral vector, and protein subunit-and challenges and experiences regarding the global issue of vaccine equity and lessons learned in terms of evolving booster doses that will address waning immunity and emerging variants. Also included will be research on variant-specific vaccines and universal coronavirus vaccines.

Implication on Public Health and Lessons Learnt: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought to the fore a number of weaknesses that also called for a 'preparedness' for infectious outbreaks.

This session will be taking after lessons from the pandemic regarding such essentials as swift diagnostics, expedient data sharing and international collaborative efforts.

It will focus on more public health control measures, not forgetting mask-wearing, safe distance from one's peers, and tracing where and with whom you may have been in contact.

Join us as we meet with some of the world's leading experts on current challenges and new developments in dealing with COVID-19. We seek to further our knowledge base, to improve our preparedness, and our preparedness going forward for pandemics.