Symposium to examine link between animal disease and human health

The early registration deadline for an international, multi-disciplinary symposium about connections between zoonotic diseases, animal agriculture and human health from the non-profit Farm Foundation is Sept. 1. The symposium is scheduled for Sept. 23-24 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D. C. "The recent H1N1 outbreak is one in a long series of disease outbreaks that has raised questions about the relationship between diseases, agricultural production systems and human health," Farm Foundation Vice President Sheldon Jones said in a news release. "An understanding of the risks and interactions is critical to health professionals working with humans and animals, policy makers and regulators. This symposium is designed to help build a systematic knowledge of those relationships."

The symposium is targeted at public health officials, epidemiologists, virologists, veterinarians, agriculture producer groups and media representatives. Speakers include Kevin Walker of Michigan State University, William Karesh of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Marguerite Pappaioanou of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, Juan Lubroth of the United Nation’s Food Agriculture Organization and David Heymann of the Centre on Global Health Security, United Kingdom. The registration fee is $300 before Sept. 1 and $350 afterward. (Read more)