Travels, migration and circulation of goods facilitate the emergence of new infectious diseases often unrecognized outside endemic areas. Most of emerging infections are of viral origin. Muscular Sarcocystis infection, an acute illness acquired during short trips to Malaysia, and Chagas disease, a chronic illness with long incubation period found among Latin American migrants, are two very different examples of emerging parasitic diseases. The former requires a preventive approach for travelers going to Malaysia and must be brought forth when they return with fever, myalgia and eosinophilia, while the latter requires a proactive attitude to screen Latin American migrant populations that may face difficulties in accessing care.
The expression « To run amok » describes bouts of murderous madness. This clinical entity was originally described in the Malay Peninsula. Associated with a form of exoticism, literary and historical descriptions are available. For about twenty years, amok has been included in psychiatric classifications as a culture-bound syndrome. In the last quarter of the 20th century, some parallels were observed between amok and mass shootings. Although the weapon of choice has changed from dagger to gun, common traits are clearly identifiable. Anger, feelings of prejudice and paranoid thoughts -dominate the picture. The absence of an ideological claim distinguishes the mass shooter from the terrorist. The psychiatrist may have a role in prevention, but these acting outs -remain difficult to anticipate.