CME “Emerging and Re-Rmerging infections in India”
The CME on “Emerging and Re-emerging infections in India” was conducted by the Department of Microbiology, BGS GIMS on 09-04-2025.
India faces a significant challenge from Emerging and Re-emerging infections, and it is a matter of time that we might be facing the next pandemic. Infections like Plague, Influenza A virus, Nipah virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Hantavirus infections, have emerged in the last decade and all these infections have the potential to turn into a pandemic. With factors like urbanization, deforestation, environmental changes, and changing socio-economic conditions like increase in trade and travel, the development of antimicrobial resistance leads to the emergence of new and Re-emerging infections. Therefore, there is a need for strengthened surveillance to assess the disease burden, need to develop effective diagnostic tools for early detection, improve treatment strategies and to adopt the One Health approach to address these threats. With this background, the CME was conducted by the Department of Microbiology.
The introduction to the CME was given by Dr Shwetha D C, Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology. Welcome note was delivered by Dr Ragini Ananth Kashid, Professor & HOD, Dept. of Microbiology, followed by lamp lighting. The Inaugural Address was given by Dr M E Mohan, Dean cum Principal and Vote of thanks by Dr Sudhamani, Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology.
The following scientific sessions were conducted,
Session – 1: “Human Metapneumovirus” by Dr Yashaswini M K, Professor & HOD, Department of Microbiology, Sri Chamundeshwari Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, Channapatna.
Session – 2: “Monkeypox Virus” by Dr Sathyanarayan M S, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru.
Session – 3: “Campylobacter jejuni associated with Guillain Barre syndrome” by
Dr Vinay D, Lead Consultant, Infectious Diseases division, Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru.
Session – 4: “Zika virus” by Dr Prakash R, Professor & HOD, Department of Microbiology, PES University Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bengaluru.
The sessions were chaired by Dr Ragini Ananth Kashid, Dr Mithun Somaiah,
Dr Madan M and Dr Maj Manjunath H K respectively.
There was good interaction between speakers and the audience related to the topics.
Post-lunch session, there was Quiz on “Emerging and Re-emerging infections” for II year MBBS students, moderated by Dr Bhavana and Dr Harshitha. The screening round for the Quiz was conducted by Dr Ramalakshmi and Dr Shalini.
The students, Aadhithya Ravichandran and Prajwal M secured 1st place, followed by Rakshitha Kedia and Sakshi Kumari who secured 2nd place in the Quiz. All the participants and audience participated actively and there was a very good response from the students. The programme concluded with Prize distribution to the Quiz winners and participants.
Overall, we received very good feedback from the speakers, delegates and the students.
