Around 200 scientists and experts in different research disciplines from 29 countries gathered in the Croatian capital for the conference.
Paleopathology is the branch of science concerned with the pathological conditions found in ancient human and animal remains.
The Paleopathology Association (PPA) was formed in 1973 by U.S. and Canadian scientists. Today, the PPA is a global community comprising researchers and students with backgrounds in physical anthropology, archaeology, medicine, biology, and zoology.
Among the topics to be discussed at the Zagreb conference are ancient parasites and infectious diseases, paleoradiology and the study of mummies, and the use of molecular biology techniques in detecting diseases in archaeological populations.
Opening the event, Minister Kujundzic said that paleopathology was of topical interest also due to growing anti-vaccination trends that have led to the resurfacing of diseases that not long ago were considered eradicated.