Checklist for teleconference (tool 2)

When foodborne outbreaks affect more than one country, there is a need for regular communication and sharing of information among countries. It is important that all those who need to be involved are invited to participate and that all important aspects are discussed. As this will rarely be feasible within EPIS, teleconferences will often be a necessary and important communication and decision tool.

The objective of this tool is to develop a checklist of topics that should be addressed at the first teleconference (and possible subsequent teleconferences) between the affected EU member states, the ECDC and possibly other relevant stakeholders at EU level in order to coordinate the investigation. This coordination may often be conducted by ECDC or one of the affected Member States, as agreed by the affected Member States.

In addition, a standard template for the agenda for the first teleconference and a template form to collect outbreak information from member states before the first teleconference are provided. The same issues are also of relevance in national or local outbreaks, and these templates can easily be modified and used in local outbreak settings.