OPERATIONAL DIRECTORATECOMMUNICABLE
AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES


Mission

The operational directorate Communicable and infectious diseases is responsible for the detection, early and rapid identification, and microbiological monitoring of existing and (re-)emerging communicable and infectious agents, and for preventing and treating these diseases.

Activities

The OD CID is a ‘centre of excellence' recognised for research of communicable and infectious diseases.  
The scientific research and reference activities of the OD CID are organised within five scientific services: 
  • Food borne pathogens
  • Bacterial diseases
  • Viral diseases
  • Mycology and aerobiology
  • Immunology
The OD CID plays an important role within the Belgian, European and internatonal networks of surveillance and reference laboratories and centres of expertise in infectious diseases and food safety. 
The OD CID reliably informs the competent authorities and the public about new developments in the field of national health, the safety of the food chain and the environment. 

Clients and collaboration

The main partners and clients of the OD CID are the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment (FPS HFCSE), the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and the National Institute for Health and Invalidity Insurance (NIHII). The OD CID cooperates with the Communities, the Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (CODA-CERVA) and the universities. At the European level it exchanges knowledge and experience with the European Centre of Disease Control (ECDC), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the National Institutes of Health. At the international level the OD CID is the point of contact for the ECDC and the World Health Organisation (WHO).