Expert readies for zoonotic keynote from ACVIM

LOUISVILLE, KY. - 06/01/06 - Emerging zoonotic disease episodes are on the rise, and with it comes added responsibilities for veterinarians.

It's a message that will be delivered by ACVIM's keynote speaker Dr. Frederick A. Murphy, a veterinarian from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Murphy takes the podium Saturday to talk about preventive control strategies to minimize the potential threat of zoonotic disease in light of the current biosecurity issues surrounding mad cow disease, avian influenza and West Nile virus.

"In the past decade, there has been an increase in emergent zoonotic disease episodes. To meet our national need requires that we rebuild a cadre of career-committed professionals, including most prominently a new cadre of veterinarians," he adds.

ACVIM's meeting kicked off May 31 here with an estimated 350 scientific sessions, workshops, special interest groups and case discussions.