Joint ZSL and Royal Society symposium: Disease invasion: impacts on biodiversity and human health

Disease invasion: impacts on biodiversity and human health - two-day symposium organised by Andrew Cunningham (ZSL), Peter Hudson (Pennsylvania State University) and Andrew Dobson (Princeton University) in partnership with the Royal Society as part of its 350th anniversary celebrations in 2010.

The transmission of infectious diseases from one species to another is not only causing problems for humans (e.g. SARS and influenza) but also threatening wildlife conservation, and even the survival of large and robust populations. Wild animals are both recipients of infections from humans and other species, and reservoirs of new infections that can spill over to threaten humans, particularly when human–wildlife contact rates are increased. This conference will focus on the extent to which wildlife pathogens threaten biodiversity and human health, the processes driving these disease threats, where future threats will arise and how these can be mitigated. Most threatening diseases are caused by infections that move between species, where one species acts a reservoir and then infects another, more vulnerable species that may incur high mortality rates. Our understanding of the dynamics of these diseases will be explored, including the processes of circulation in wild reservoirs, the interesting and rare process of spillover, and how establishment occurs in the new host species. We will evaluate the biological and anthropogenic mechanisms that facilitate the spillover and spread of infection into new species (including humans) and geographic regions, and the selection pressures that can lead to new infections evolving. Aspects of control will be addressed, including the control of infections within their reservoir hosts and the target species. A range of issues will be examined, from molecular processes to large-scale ecosystems, in order to identify and predict future threats. Finally, policies for mitigating disease threats to conservation and human health will be reviewed and science-based recommendations made.

Organised by organised by Andrew Cunningham (Institute of Zoology, ZSL), Peter Hudson FRS (Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at The Pennsylvania State University) and Andrew Dobson (Princeton University) in partnership with the Royal Society as part of its 350th anniversary celebrations in 2010.

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON

For further details or to register your interest, please see www.zsl.org/science/scientific-meetings/ or contact Joy Hayward, Scientific Meetings Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY; tel: +44 (0)20 7449 6227; fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411; e-mail: joy.hayward@zsl.org.

ZSL Science and Conservation Events: An essential part of ZSL's work is to communicate relevant, high-quality zoological and conservation science. The integrated ZSL Science and Conservation Events programme includes Symposia, and the new 'Wildlife Conservation' and 'Communicating Science' series. Topics cover a wide variety of zoological and conservation themes, and international experts present and discuss their research

Further Information: please contact Joy Hayward, Scientific Meetings Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY.
Tel:+44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411. E-mail: joy.hayward@zsl.org.

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