To enable discussion of all aspects of emerging virus infections, an Emerging Viruses meeting was held at the University of Nottingham, UK, on 27–29 July 2015. Given the success of this meeting, a second meeting was organised, now called ‘Emerging Viruses of Zoonotic and Veterinary Importance’, at Churchill College, Cambridge, UK, on 24–26 July 2017 to encourage discussion of emerging virus infections from a One Health perspective.