New cases of the life-threatening MERS coronavirus in the Middle East and the H7N9 bird flu virus in China have prompted questions about the world's readiness to confront potential resulting pandemics. Presented November 13, 2013 in collaboration with PRI's The World and WGBH, this Forum event examined risks associated with these particular viruses, vaccine technologies to combat them, strategies to track them, global preparedness plans and lessons learned from past deadly outbreaks such as SARS and H1N1.

Part of the Andelot Series on Current Science Controversies.

Watch the entire series at www.ForumHSPH.org.