LEARN stakeholder meeting at University of Pretoria places neglected arboviruses at centre stage

After attending the Virology Africa conference in Cape Town, the University of Pretoria hosted our LEARN stakeholder meeting. The attendees were welcomed by Prof. Marietjie Venter and UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe, who acknowledged the importance of research on neglected arboviruses and the collaborations between African and European countries. LEARN partners provided presentations on West Nile virus, Sindbis virus, Middelburg virus, Shuni virus, Wesselsbron virus and Rift Valley fever and invited speakers Prof. Janusz Paweska and Prof. Felicity Burt provided keynote lectures on Rift Valley fever and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. The LEARN consortium is grateful for these valuable contributions and additionally thanks Prof. Misheck Mulumba (Director of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research) and Prof Stephanie Burton (Vice Chancellor, Research, UP) for their contributions as moderators.

From left to right: Dr Abel Wade, Dr Benjamin Gutjahr, Prof Martin Groschup, Prof Jeroen Kortekaas, Prof Robin Green, Prof Tawana Kupe and Prof Marietjie Venter.