Zoonoosit

Zoonoosit (often called zoonoses in English) are infectious diseases that can be naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans. They include bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections and range from endemic foodborne illnesses to emerging pathogens that cause outbreaks and pandemics.

Transmission occurs by several routes: direct contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids, indirect contact via contaminated environments or fomites, vector-borne spread by ticks or mosquitoes, ingestion of contaminated food or water, and inhalation of infectious aerosols. Many zoonoosit involve complex life cycles or animal reservoirs that enable persistence in nature.

Representative examples include rabies, salmonellosis, Lyme disease, hantavirus infections, avian and swine influenzas, Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers. Zoonoosit are a major source of emerging infectious diseases and can have significant public‑health, economic and ecological impacts.

Prevention and control rely on integrated approaches that combine animal health, human health and environmental management (One Health). Measures include veterinary surveillance and vaccination, food safety and hygiene, vector control, regulation of wildlife trade and habitat management, early detection and outbreak response, and public education. International collaboration and surveillance are important to identify and mitigate risks from zoonotic pathogens, particularly where human activity increases contact between people and wildlife.