The past year has been a busy one for both the Asian Pacific Dengue Prevention Board (APDPB) and the Americas Dengue Prevention Board (AmDPB).

Reports from their productive meetings on surveillance and diagnostics have been issued and are posted online at PDVI's web site (http://www.pdvi.org/email_news/denguereports_1.html). These reports capture the deliberations and recommendations of the boards on these topics that are vital to a vaccine introduction. The combined board report on dengue surveillance has been submitted to a journal for publication, as will the combined report on diagnostics. Additionally, PDVI convened meetings in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Panama City, Panama on the issues to consider for the introduction and implementation of a dengue vaccine in endemic countries. These first-of-theirkind meetings explored the process a vaccine must undergo from research to reality, the role of post-marketing surveillance, discussions of issues that countries must consider to implement a dengue vaccine into their national vaccine programs, and more. Board reports from those meetings will be issued in early 2010.

The following people have joined the Asian Pacific Dengue Prevention Board:

Lucy Chair See Lum, MD, is a Lecturer and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She received her MD from the University of Malaya and holds a European Diploma in Intensive Care. Lum is an active researcher and consultant on issues related to pediatric dengue infection and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Sri Rezeki S. Hadinegoro, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Pediatric Infectious Disease at the University of Indonesia. Hadinegoro also received her MD and PhD degrees from the same institution. She maintains an active research agenda on issues related to pediatric infectious diseases including pneumococcal diseases, hepatitis B, and dengue.

Hlaing Myat Thu, PhD, is Deputy Director and Head of the Virology Research Division at the Department of Medical Research in Lower Myanmar. Thu earned her PhD from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. She publishes extensively on dengue fever and other infectious disease.

Jacob John, MD, is one of India's most authoritative figures in immunization and has served on numerous international groups. He has been a Professor at the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore. He is a recognized expert in polio immunization, Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines, vaccine safety, and dengue among other topics.

Welcome to all new members and thank you to all existing members for your commitment of time and energy in laying the groundwork for the eventual introduction of a dengue vaccine.