ROST

The Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service, the Viroscience Department of Erasmus MC and the Pandemic Disaster and Preparedness Centre (PDPC) have been working closely together within the Rotterdam Outbreak Study Team (ROST) since 2020. ROST's primary goal is to conduct joint scientific research on public health and infectious disease control in the Rotterdam region, both in current outbreaks and potential threats.

ROST meets at least monthly to discuss signals of infectious diseases from the Rotterdam region, or from national and international sources. In the event of a relevant outbreak or threat, the team can be mobilised quickly to set up and conduct structured and effective investigations.

ROST aims to increase knowledge about early signs of outbreaks, the epidemiology, pathogens involved, and effective control measures. This knowledge is then used to promote and protect the health of Rotterdammers and beyond.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Marion Koopmans, viroscience@erasmusmc.nl

During outbreak investigations, ROST aims to identify the source of infections, understand the transmission and pathogenesis of the microorganism, chart the course of the outbreak, and evaluate the effectiveness of the infection prevention and control measures deployed. For real threats, ROST also examines potential interventions such as education, intensified surveillance and new surveillance techniques, as well as the impact and effectiveness of other relevant measures.

In periods without major outbreaks, ROST continues to meet regularly to identify potential trends early and strengthen mutual cooperation. In addition, protocols, techniques, collaborations and agreements are sharpened so that they can be quickly operational in case of a major outbreak.

Based on the research, policymakers and other stakeholders can make better-informed decisions and develop response measures that truly address the needs and challenges revealed by the research.

Examples of investigations of ROST in recent years include SARS-CoV-2, measles, mumps and influenza. In addition, ROST also plays an important role in sewage research, molecular epidemiological research and One Health research.

Research activities range from identifying the source of infection, documenting the dynamics of an outbreak, assessing the effectiveness of applied infection prevention measures, gathering new scientific insights, to recording and further investigating notable outbreaks.

Examples of research in which ROST is closely involved:

Test street SARS-CoV-2 with new techniques
The information bus in the neighbourhood
Wastewater surveillance
Preparing for a possible measles outbreak

The core team of ROST

ROST works in a fixed composition and meets monthly to discuss signals of infectious diseases in the region, nationally or internationally. In case of outbreaks, ROST can be quickly scaled up.

Responsibility

ROST is a partnership between the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service, PDPC and the Viroscience Department of the ErasmusMC. Within the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service, ROST falls under the responsibility of the infectious disease control team, in which close partnerships are maintained with other Public Health Services and external teams.

Members are:

The Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service

Carolien Koop - Epidemiologist, coordinator
Marlous Prins - Epidemiologist
George Sips - Physician-Microbiologist
Aimée Tjon-A-Tsien - Physician Society & Health Epidemiologist
Danny Stougje - Data & Information project officer
Bruno Vieyra - Physician infectious disease control AIOS

ErasmusMC, Viroscience

Marion Koopmans - Head of Viroscience department
Janko van Beek - Researcher
Reina Sikkema - PI One Health Virology, Researcher
Bas Oude Munnink - PI Public health genomics, Researcher
Miranda de Graaf - PI, Researcher
Richard Molenkamp - PI, (Molecular) Virologist
Karin von Eije - PI, Physician Microbiologist/Virologist

PDPC

Anja Schreijer - Medical director
Tim Florschütz - PhD PDPC

Ad hoc experts may be attached depending on the nature of the outbreak.

In case of outbreaks, a report is made to the Action Centre of the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Public Health Service, by phone, via the website or via the web tool RPOID (‘Reporting Point for Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases’ for institutions). The infectious disease control team takes up (medical) advice to stop the outbreak, conducts source and contact investigations if necessary and is responsible for further outbreak control.

Among the outbreak reports, there are regularly interesting cases worth investigating further, with the aim of increasing our knowledge. Besides the reported outbreaks, relevant signals from the weekly surveillance meeting of team infectious disease control can also be investigated. In viral outbreaks, ROST works closely with the Department of Viroscience and the Pandemic Disaster and Preparedness Centre (PDPC). Moreover, Erasmus MC can take the initiative to investigate an outbreak through ROST.