Over the past few decades there appears to have been a never-ending stream of emerging diseases from AIDS to SARS and now MERS. Predictions are that global warming will bring an increased emergence of pathogens. Clinical labs, veterinary labs and public health labs are challenged to be prepared for the next emerging threat. Participants will examine pathogens that have recently emerged and discuss what factors may make them long lasting threats and how public health laboratories should be preparing for those threats.

Ian Lipkin, Columbia University, New York
Lyle Petersen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado