Klinische Infektionskrankheiten: Open Access

Zoonotic Diseases: Emerging Threats and One Health Approaches

Abstract

Hernández Felix

Zoonotic diseases are infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa. They include a wide range of pathogens, from bacteria and viruses to parasites and fungi. Zoonoses have been responsible for some of the most devastating pandemics in history, such as the 1918 influenza pandemic and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging zoonotic diseases are those that have recently appeared in human populations or have experienced a significant increase in incidence. Deforestation, urbanization and habitat destruction can bring humans into closer contact with wildlife, increasing the risk of zoonotic spill over. Increased movement of people and goods facilitates the spread of zoonotic pathogens across borders. The misuse of antibiotics in both human and animal healthcare contributes to the development of drug-resistant zoonotic pathogens.