Zoonoses and emerging diseases

Infectious animal diseases, including zoonoses (infections that spread naturally between animals and humans), can have a big impact on both the economy and public health, food safety and biodiversity.
There are specific steps that can be taken to stop and control these infections, which are usually part of a wider programme/system of surveillance.


Surveillance is a key part of an efficient and effective disease prevention and control policy, and is put in place, jointly, by operators and competent authorities, to:
●    combat zoonoses;
●    prevent the introduction of emerging diseases; and
●    implement a system for keeping track of the health conditions of establishments where livestock are kept, bred and transported.

Surveillance activities include working with members of the public, which can play an active role in prevention by reporting wild animals (birds, wild boars, foxes, etc.) found injured, dying or dead.

Tackling zoonoses is a big challenge for public health, because human, animal and environmental health are all connected when it comes to overall well-being.

 

The “One Health” strategy is a multidisciplinary and multisector approach involving professionals, such as doctors and veterinarians, in epidemiological surveillance and control activities, risk prevention and assessment, support for the investigation of epidemiological outbreaks, research, experimentation and training. 

 

Zoonotic agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) are transmitted by:
direct contact
infected animals
indirect contact
contaminated objects or food
vector-borne contact
insects