American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene holds annual meeting in Atlanta, November 11-15, 2001

To find out more about the status of tropical diseases in the world today, media representatives are invited to attend the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, November 11-15, 2001 at the Hilton Atlanta and Towers in Atlanta, Georgia.

With an estimated attendance of 1,500 tropical disease researchers, the ASTMH meeting will will include over sixty scientific sessions, poster sessions, symposia and plenary sessions on a broad spectrum of tropical disease topics including new methods for diagnosis, epidemiologic investigations, public health interventions, economic analysis of tropical disease impact, vaccine and drug design and evaluation, arthropod biology and control, and basic research on disease agents and mechanisms of pathogenesis.

Selected symposia will focus on steps being taken to protect the health of deployed military personnel, the genetic manipulation of insects to prevent transmission of vector-borne diseases, the management and diagnosis of exotic diseases, and an analysis of insect repellents currently available.

Of special note: On Thursday, November 15 there will be a special session entitled "The Carter Center's Work to Control or Eradicate Selected Tropical Diseases." Former president Jimmy Carter is an invited participant in this session which will review activities of the Carter Center in working with ministries of health, non-governmental organizations and other institutions to control or eradicate certain tropical diseases. Comprehensive media facilities will be available in the onsite Press Room and press registration for credentialed media is complimentary. Media are also invited to attend a special pre-meeting course on "Updates in Special Bacterial Pathogens" to be held November 10-11. Biological warfare, bioterrorism and biological defense will be among the topics covered during the course. Media registration for this course is on a space-available basis and pre-registration is required. For additional information about the meeting program and ASTMH, visit the web site at www.astmh.org. The site includes a downloadable meeting program book, background material on tropical diseases and their impact, plus an international directory of travel clinics. Media representatives are requested to register in advance by contacting Jim Sliwa, jsliwa@asmusa.org, 202-942-9297.

Travel arrangements: For room reservations at the Hilton, call 404-659-2000 or fax 404-221-6301. Be sure to identify yourself as an ASTMH attendee. Founded in 1951, the ASTMH has over 3,000 members from more than 70 countries. The Society provides a forum for scientists and other healthcare professionals to exchange information and ideas on tropical diseases and international health.