The ISBM GLOBIOTH special interest group was formed at the Mainz ICBM conference luncheon roundtable in August 2004. The roundtable discussed the experiences, lesson learned and research needs related to SARS and avian influenza epidemics.

The ISBM GLOBIOTH organized a joint workshop with EUPHA Section Infectious Disease Control at the EUPHA 2005 conference, in November, in Graz, Austria. (www.eupha.org). (EUPHA=European Public Health Association). The title of the workshop was Assessment, management, perception and communication of risk: the lessons of SARS.