CHARLESTON -- Health care providers and community health partners will come together at the Charleston Marriott for the 2009 West Virginia Public Health Symposium Thursday.

Up for discussion, implications of the H1N1 virus and other communicable diseases and the question of whether the state is prepared.

State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Slemp will lead discussions during the two-day event.

Dr. Nathan Wolfe will be the keynote speaker at the event. He is an epidemiologist and he will speak about global pandemics and the H1N1 virus.