The communication aims to precise the notion of emergence. This notion concerns the unexpected occurrence of a new entity, shape or property and applies to economics, politics, arts or disease events. The 3 dimensions of emergence are linked to information, statistics and concept of complexity. The first dimension, often popularized through the mass media, can facilitate the production of original epidemiological data and help to improve disease detection systems. The statistical dimension of emergence requires improving statistical/computer approaches in different domains (without a priori detection systems, rare events, non linear modelling). The conceptual dimension of emergence, based on the founder work of Georges Henry Lewes (1875), is today translated through approaches concerning adaptative systems, non linear dynamic systems and methods of emergent computation. A research strategy to work on conceptual emergence is proposed, which is based on the definition of model vegetal and zoonotic pathosystems from which innovative and appropriate methods in biology; informatics and mathematics could be performed to study the conditions of emergence of epidemiological events, such as a new pathogen, a new host or a new route of transmission for a known pathogen.