Animal and Rabies Control Conference 2025

Zoonotic Disease Awareness and Public Health Symposium

Presented by ARC
Friday, October 10, 2025
Brookfield Zoo – Discovery Center, Savannah Room
8400 31st St., Brookfield, IL 60513
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Lunch and refreshments will be provided

RACE-approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit for veterinarians 

About the Event

The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control invites you to register for the Zoonotic Disease Awareness and Public Health Symposium. This conference will provide updates on diagnostics and treatment, the role veterinarians and public health officials play in responding to various zoonotic disease and focus on strengthening the relationship between human and animal healthcare providers.  

This one-day program is geared toward veterinarians, public health officials and humane societies. 

Presentations will be made by experts in the field of infectious zoonotic diseases. 

 Keynote Speaker

Dr. Charles Rupprecht
One of the world’s leading experts on rabies, Dr. Rupprecht brings decades of experience in infectious disease research and policy.
Speaker Bio

Agenda

9 - 9:30 a.m. - Zoonotic Disease- It’s a Two-Way Street- panel discussion with Dr. Rachel Rubin of Cook County Department of Public Health and Dr. Matthew Leslie from Illinois Department of Public Health 

9:30 - 10 a.m. – Rabies in Illinois: Brief Review of Local Epidemiology and Best Practices with Dr. Matthew Leslie

10 – 10:15 a.m. – Welcome Address by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

10:15-11:15 a.m. - Current Opportunities and Challenges in Rabies Prevention, Surveillance and Research Part 1 with Dr. Charles Rupprecht of LYSSA LLC 

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. – Current Opportunities and Challenges in Rabies Prevention, Surveillance and Research Part 2 - panel discussion with Dr. Charles Rupprecht, Dr. Matthew Leslie, Mabel Frias of Cook County Department of Public Health and Dr. Rachel Rubin

12:15 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch

1 - 2:00 p.m. - Tularemia: Companion Animal Infections and Zoonotic Risk with Dr. Jennifer Reinhart of University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

2:15 - 2:45 p.m. – Leptospirosis - The Chicago Rat Project with Dr. Seth Magle and Andrea Flores of The Urban Wildlife Institute at Lincoln Park Zoo

2:45 - 3:15 p.m. Leptospirosis in Cook County Raccoons with Dr. Corrine Vaughan, resident of the Zoological Pathology Program at University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

3:15 - 4:00 p.m. HPAI (and the ongoing) Outbreak with Dr. Karen Terio of the Zoological Pathology Program at University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

Continuing Education

This program has been RACE approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit for veterinarians in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.

For additional information contact our department at ARCAdmin@cookcountyil.gov