Zoonoses

Zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses, are diseases shared between animals – including livestock, wildlife, and pets – and people. They can pose serious risks to both animal and human health and may have far-reaching impacts on economies and livelihoods. Zoonotic diseases are commonly spread at the human-animal-environment interface – where people and animals interact with each other in their shared environment. Zoonotic diseases can be foodborne, waterborne, or vector-borne, or transmitted through direct contact with animals, or indirectly by fomites or environmental contamination. Examples include, Rift Valley Fever, MERS-CoV, and some strains of Avian Influenza. 

One Health approach

Health issues at the human-animal-environment interface cannot be effectively addressed by one sector alone. Collaboration across all sectors and disciplines responsible for health is required to address zoonotic diseases and other shared health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. This approach to collaboration is referred to as One Health.