The ISC currently has 17 Sections / Working Groups, which are listed at http://www.ischemo.org/02_Sections.htm. The work of two is highlighted below.

The ISC Working Group on Zoonoses held a very successful meeting at the end of last year in Cairo: the International Conference on Emerging Zoonotic Diseases. The following is a report from the meeting.

Emerging zoonotic diseases are new infections transmitted between animals and humans, or old ones that have become more severe or have spread beyond their usual territories. At the end of last year, scientists from different countries all over the world met at the Cairo Sheraton Hotel in Egypt under the umbrella of the ISC and Zagazig University to discuss global trends in emerging zoonotic diseases and make recommendations for effective control strategies.

In the past few years, emerging zoonotic episodes have increased. The list of important emerging zoonotic diseases is impressive, and indeed, given what we know about disease ecology, it will only continue to grow.

Nearly all the major topics discussed are of regional and global importance: the novel H1N1 swine influenza, Metapneumonoviruses, Dengue fever, Brucellosis, Echinococcosis and other neglected zoonoses, such as Crimean-Congo Haemorrahgic Fever and other viral hemorrhagic fevers, Leishmaniases, and foodborne zoonoses like E. Coli, Salmonellosis and Campylobacteriosis.

Prevention and control strategies for all these diseases are different from those required for diseases whose etiologic agents have long relied on human-to-human transmission for survival. Two sessions were designed to discuss matters related to preventive measures:Biosecurity and Biosafety, regional actions against zoonoses, including capacity building for disease control, and effective risk communication messaging for the media as the essential component for involving local communities in disease control activities.

The emergence of new zoonotic pathogens is extending and accelerating because:

• global human and livestock populations continue to grow, bringing increasingly larger numbers of people and animals into close contact;
• modern transportation, is making it possible to circumnavigate the globe in less than the incubation period of most infectious agents;
• massive ecologic and environmental changes are being brought about by human activities;
• the capacity of viruses and other microorganisms to adapt to extremely diverse and changing econiches;
• deforestation and the establishment of settlements in and near tropical forests are newly exposing farmers and domestic animals to new arthropods and the disease agents they carry
• uncontrolled urbanization and environmental pollution

The most important recommendations and conclusions of the conference were the need to:

• Strengthen zoonotic disease surveillance and response by expanding and creating programs, networks, and surveillance systems that enable health authorities nationally, regionally and globally to identify and respond to emerging zoonotic disease threats.
• Identify the behaviors, environments, and host factors that put people and animals at increased risk for emerging zoonotic diseases.
• Improve methods for gathering and evaluating surveillance data by enhancing epidemiologic and laboratory capacity.
• Ensure the use of surveillance data to improve public health practice and medical treatments.
• Disseminate clear and accurate massages through the media that avoid panic and involve the people and communities in their ability to help manage and control zoonotic disease spread. 
• Strengthen global capacity to monitor and respond to emerging zoonotic diseases.

This is the first conference of Southeast European and neighbouring countries covering both infectious diseases and cancer topics.  The main focus will be problems relevant to this geographical area. Many societies have been involved in compiling the preliminary programme and each has organized / sponsored one (part) symposium. Currently there are plans for 24 symposia running in parallel sessions as well as oral communication sessions and posters. This conference will also provide an important platform for the  exchange of scientific information, knowledge and friendship among countries which, although geographically close, have historically been culturally very diverse.

The 4th European Conference on Bloodstream Infections is organized by the International Society of Cardiovascular Infections in collaboration with the Working Group on Endocarditis and Bloodstream Infections of the International Society of Chemotherapy, Infection and Cancer.

Scientific Secretariat :
Symposium Chair : Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis , MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, 4th Dept of Internal Medicine
University of Athens, Medical School, Greece
Telephone : +30-210-5831994
Mobile : +306945521800
Email: giamarel@ath.forthnet.gr

Further information may found at www.sepsis.gr/bsi.html

For further information, contact
PROF. FRANCESCO SCAGLIONE
francesco.scaglione@unimi.it
Phone: ++39-0250317073
Fax: ++39-0250317050

The Italian Society of Chemotherapy in conjunction with the ISC and FESCI has organised a summer school.
No tuition fee is required for attendees and the total cost for accommodation is 400 Euros per person covering dinner, bed and breakfast for 6 days.
The school is organized in one week courses dedicated to postgraduate and continuing medical education. The school is situated in the old restored building providing an appropriate setting for high intellectual endeavour. The building called Palazzo Feltrinelli (www.palazzofeltrinelli.it/) is located in Gargnano on the lake of Garda–Italy.

Programme topics include:

• Introduction into PK/PD of anti-infectives -
• Models of Infection: In vitro vs. in vivo
• Tissue pharmacokinetic
• Appropriate dosing of antiifective drug
• pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling
• PK/PD in special population
• Dosing and emergence of resistance