Local vets, doctors and public health officials with gather this week to discuss disaster preparedness plans in response to climate change, terrorism and natural disasters.

About 300 veterinarians, physicians, nurses, public health and agriculture professionals and disaster responders from across the country will learn about potential impacts of climate change on human and animal health, and discuss solutions for responding to them.

The symposium will take place Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 10 and 11, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, Research Triangle Park.

This is the sixth annual symposium focusing on "one medicine," an approach to disaster preparedness that fosters cooperation among agencies involved in human and animal medicine for a rapid, effective response to diseases, terrorism and natural disasters.

Sessions will focus on a variety of topics, such as extreme weather events, air quality and respiratory health, and the impact of climate change on crop yields. The agenda is available online at www.onemedicinenc.org/agenda08.htm.

The symposium is sponsored by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the state Division of Public Health, the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill, the College of Veterinary Medicine at N.C. State University, and the Wake Area Health Education Center.