Arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses) are dangerous pathogens for animal and humans which may cause acute diseases with high burden for human activities. More than 30 viruses classified in 10 families may cause burden in human population with increasing areas of infestation and virulence activities. During the last decade, new threats have emerged with the discovery on previously unknown mosquito-borne viruses in Asia, introduction of West Nile virus in the Americas, and concomitant emergence of Chickungunya virus and highly receptive mosquitoes in Indian Ocean. Social and climate changes would alter the pattern of infectious diseases, and would impact on the frequency range and seasonal pattern of yellow fever virus, of highly virulent strain of West Nile virus, of dengue hemorrhagic fever, and of new viruses emerging from animal reservoirs. No new vaccines against arboviruses have been developed since 20 years. Vaccine established against Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, or Chickungunya have not been exploited for human prevention, Great hope for the first decade of the new millennium is based on the release of a vaccine against dengue hemorrhagic fever.

In 30 years, knowledge on arboviral biology, host-pathogen interaction, host responses, innate immunity, and host genetic susceptibility has made invaluable progress, opening new avenues for innovation on virus structure and morphogenesis, viral protein function, mechanisms of viral- and immuno-pathogenesis, virus-vector interactions, vaccine, and drug discovery.

A meeting on arboviruses seems appropriate in Shanghai in China since it is a carrefour of virus circulation from tropical and temperate areas, from North and South, from West and East. China will host Olympic Games in 2008 and the World Expo in 2010. Several arboviruses are circulating in China and the risk of introduction of viruses is not underestimated by Health authorities. China is an emerging country for innovative research projects and cooperation with Southeast Asian, Indian, European, Australian, Russian, African and American countries. Preparedness for emergence of arboviruses is a global challenge and a united concern that must mobilize the whole scientific community.

AREVA, contributing to a better environment by providing a clean energy, participates since 2004 to the education and researches on infectious diseases developed in Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with its national and international networks. AREVA-Pasteur partnership contributes to researches and discoveries, providing means to control zoonotic viruses.