U.S.-Japan cooperative medical sciences program: 22nd International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Rim

This review summarizes the presentations given at the 22nd International conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Rim. The purpose of this annual meeting is to foster international collaborations and address important public health issues in the Asia-Pacific region. This meeting was held in Bangkok in February 2020 and focused on emerging virus infections. Unexpectedly, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was in the initial stages leading to a special session on COVID-19 in addition to talks on dengue, influenza, hepatitis, AIDS, Zika, chikungunya, rabies, cervical cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. •Early recognition and response to SARS-CoV-2 entry into Thailand and Cambodia.•Pathogenesis of HIV, rabies, Lassa, chikungunya, coronavirus and paramyxovirus.•Improved diagnosis and treatment for norovirus, HBV and EBV infections.•Vaccine development for influenza, dengue, HIV, HCV and mosquito-borne pathogens.•Successful control of human papillomavirus infection through vaccination.