Zoonoses

Zoonoses are infectious diseases in which pathogens are transmitted from animals to humans. The occurrence of many zoonoses depends on weather and climate, which affect how the pathogens are transmitted (particularly those transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes), the animals that are the natural hosts of the disease-causing organisms, and the capacity of human society to control them. Climate change (particularly via warming) is expected to drive the emergence of zoonoses by changing their geographic ranges and facilitating spillover of zoonoses from wildlife into, and adaptation to, domesticated animals and humans. Increased climate variability and extreme weather events associated with climate change may cause more outbreaks of some endemic zoonoses. Public health, animal health, and environmental health practitioners will need to work collaboratively in a One Health approach to minimize risks from zoonoses that emerge or re-emerge with climate change by a combination of model-based risk assessment, surveillance, and early-warning systems, and enhanced capacity to prevent and control them.