Disease invasion: impacts on biodiversity and human health - symposium

18th November 2010 - 19th November 2010

ZLS London Zoo 09:00

The transmission of infectious diseases from one species to another is not only causing problems for humans (for example, SARS and influenza) but is 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 suffer high-mortality rates.

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