4th Annual BAVBD Meeting
24–25 October 2026 · Park Hotel Moskva, Sofia, Bulgaria
A regional scientific meeting dedicated to prevention, diagnostics, clinical experience, epidemiology, One Health collaboration, and biosafety in the field of vector-borne diseases and vector-borne pathogens.
Explore the meeting:
Overview | Complete Agenda | Abstract Submission | Key Lecturers | Venue | Contact
Conference Overview
The 4th Annual BAVBD Meeting will bring together physicians, veterinarians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, laboratory specialists, researchers, public health professionals, and other experts working on vector-borne diseases and vector-borne pathogens across the Balkans and neighboring regions.
The meeting is designed to support scientific exchange, regional collaboration, and practical knowledge sharing in prevention, diagnostics, clinical management, epidemiology, One Health approaches, laboratory research, biosafety, and responsible handling of valuable biological material.
Through invited lectures, abstract presentations, clinical case discussions, and interdisciplinary sessions, the meeting will highlight current challenges and opportunities for improving surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, outbreak preparedness, and cross-border cooperation.
Scientific focus areas
Prevention and surveillance
Diagnostic methods and laboratory research
Clinical experience and case reports
Human and veterinary epidemiology
One Health collaboration
Biosafety and biosecurity
Regional and cross-border cooperation
Key Information
4th Annual BAVBD Meeting
Scientific meeting / annual meeting
Date: 24–25 October 2026
Venue: Park Hotel Moskva, Sofia, Bulgaria
Abstract submission: Available Deadline: 01.08.2026.
Complete Agenda
The complete scientific programme is presented below. The programme includes 30-minute key and invited lectures, 10-minute contributed oral presentations, session discussions, and an integrated biorisk roundtable. Session II opens with two consecutive key lectures. All times are local Sofia time.
Session chairs and the roundtable moderator will be announced following final confirmation.
Day 1
15:00–15:15
OPENING CEREMONY
Welcome address by BAVBD representatives and introduction to the meeting objectives and programme.
SESSION I — Prevention, Diagnostics, and Laboratory Research
15:15–17:00
Session chairs: to be confirmed. The opening key lecture is 30 minutes; each contributed presentation is allocated 10 minutes.
15:15–15:45 · KEY LECTURE
Emergence of flaviviruses in Bulgaria
Prof. Iva Christova
National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD), Sofia · Bulgaria
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National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCIPD), Sofia
Country: Bulgaria -
Goce Delčev University, Štip; Institute of Public Health of North Macedonia
Country: North Macedonia
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National Reference Laboratory for Vector-Borne Infections, NCIPD, Sofia
Country: Bulgaria
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National Reference Laboratory for Vector-Borne Infections, NCIPD, Sofia
Country: Bulgaria
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National Reference Laboratory for Vector-Borne Infections, NCIPD, Sofia
Country: Bulgaria
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National Reference Laboratory for Vector-Borne Infections, NCIPD, Sofia
Country: Bulgaria
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Institute of Zoology, State University of Moldova, Chișinău
Country: Moldova
16:55–17:00 · SESSION DISCUSSION
Key messages and questions
Session chairs: to be confirmed
17:00–17:30 · COFFEE BREAK
Networking and refreshments.
SESSION II — Clinical Experience with Vector-Borne Diseases in the Balkans and Neighboring Regions
17:30–20:00
The session opens with two consecutive 30-minute key lectures. Each contributed presentation is allocated 10 minutes. Session chairs: to be confirmed.
17:30–18:00 · KEY LECTURE
Rickettsial diseases
Prof. Antonio Cascio
AOU Policlinico “P. Giaccone”, University of Palermo · Italy
18:00–18:30 · KEY LECTURE
Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
Prof. Hakan Leblebicioğlu
VM Medicalpark Samsun Hospital · Turkey
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Medical University – Plovdiv
Country: Bulgaria -
Clinic for Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
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University Hospital for Active Treatment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases “Prof. Ivan Kirov”, Sofia
Country: Bulgaria
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Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac; University Clinical Center Kragujevac
Country: Serbia
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University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” (QSUT), Tirana
Country: Albania
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Department of Infectious Diseases, City General Hospital “8 September”, Skopje
Country: North Macedonia
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University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions, Skopje
Country: North Macedonia
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Department of Infectious Diseases, Pazardzhik MHAT
Country: Bulgaria
19:50–20:00 · SESSION DISCUSSION
Clinical lessons and priority actions
Session chairs: to be confirmed
21:00 · CONFERENCE DINNER
Conference dinner for registered participants; practical details to be confirmed.
DAY 2
SESSION III — Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans and Animals
09:00–11:00
Session chairs: to be confirmed. The opening key lecture is 30 minutes; each contributed presentation is allocated 10 minutes.
09:00–09:30 · KEY LECTURE
From compatibility attractors to vector competence: how host–microbiome interactions shape disease transmission
Dr. Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
Bipar Laboratory, INRAE–ANSES–ENVA joint unit, Maisons-Alfort · France
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Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Country: Greece -
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice
Country: Slovakia
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Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Country: Bulgaria
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Pasteur Institute Novi Sad
Country: Serbia
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University clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions - Skopje
Country: North Macedonia
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Center for Public Health – Skopje
Country: North Macedonia
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Department of Epidemiology and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv
Country: Bulgaria
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Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases – Branch North Macedonia
Country: North Macedonia
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Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš; University Clinical Center Niš
Country: Serbia
11:00–11:10 · SESSION DISCUSSION
Regional surveillance, One Health integration and prevention priorities
Session chairs: to be confirmed
11:10–17:30 · COFFEE BREAK
Networking and refreshments.
SESSION IV — Biosafety Aspects of Working with Valuable Biological Material
Integrated biorisk roundtable: Regional Approaches to Biorisk Management and Preparedness for Emerging and High-Consequence Diseases
In cooperation with
Hellenic Biosafety Society
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Department of Forensic Engineering, Faculty of Forensic Sciences and Engineering. UCIPS
CBRNE Center of Excellence, UCIPS, Belgrade
Country: Serbia
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Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Country: Greece
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Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Country: Serbia
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Biorisk Management Advisor; President, Hellenic Biosafety Society, Athens
Country: Greece
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Spyridon Kritas
Evanthia Petridou
Dionysis Vourtsis
13:00 - 14:00 · CLOSING CEREMONY AND LUNCH
Summary of key conclusions; discussion of future BAVBD activities; closing remarks and lunch.