Modeling Infections in the Transfusion Chain (MITCH-study)

The Utrecht Center for Infection Dynamics (UCID) performs mathematical modeling on infectious disease epidemiology, and is a collaboration of the Center for Infectious Disease Control (RIVM/CIb) and the Julius Center. Collaboration of TTA with UCID strengthens the knowledge base for blood safety modeling. Generic Modeling of Infections in the Transfusion Chain (MITCH) is in development, encompassing all relevant parameters for biological and epidemiological characteristics of infections in the transfusion chain. MITCH will allow ad hoc introduction of actual EID parameters, yielding timely assessment for risk management. In collaboration with UCID and Sanquin Dept of Blood-borne Infections modeling of Q-fever risk during outbreaks in the Netherlands was started. Given recent Q-fever, Chikungunya and Dengue outbreaks in Europe, the European Centers of Disease Control (ECDC) asked TTA to develop a European Up-Front blood Risk Assessment Tool (EUFRAT), a web based EID modeling tool to provide quick access by EU experts and decision makers.