Over the past 6 years a number of zoonotic and vectorborne viral diseases have emerged in southeast asia and the western pacific vectorborne disease agents discussed in this article include japanese encephalitis barmah forest ross river and chikungunya viruses however most emerging viruses have been zoonotic with fruit bats including the . Over the past 6 years a number of zoonotic and vectorborne viral diseases have emerged in southeast asia and the western pacific vectorborne disease agents discussed in this article include japanese encephalitis barmah forest ross river and chikungunya viruses. Viral diseases in south east asia and the western pacific southeast asia is a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases including those with pandemic potential emerging infectious diseases have exacted heavy public health and economic tolls severe acute respiratory syndrome rapidly decimated the regions tourist industry. Proceedings of an international seminar on viral diseases in south east asia and the western pacific held in canberra australia 8 12 february 1982 abstract this conference was concerned mainly with human viral diseases viral diseases subject category diseases disorders and symptoms