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The Impact of Human Activities on Zoonotic Infection Transmissions
Michelle Marie Esposito1,2,3, Sara Turku1,3, Leora Lehrfield1,3
1Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|May 27, 2023
Summary
Human activities like deforestation and climate change alter animal behavior, increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans. Understanding these impacts is crucial for public health.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Human expansion into natural habitats disrupts wildlife behavior and interactions.
- Climate change and human activities impact arthropod vectors, influencing disease transmission.
- Zoonotic diseases, comprising 60% of emerging pathogens, pose significant public health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how human activities influence zoonotic pathogen prevalence and transmission.
- To understand the link between altered animal movements and human exposure to diseases.
- To inform public health strategies for disease prevention and control.
Main Methods:
- Review of ecological and epidemiological studies on human-wildlife interactions.
- Analysis of climate change data and its effect on vector-borne diseases.
- Assessment of pathogen transmission dynamics in changing environments.
Main Results:
- Human activities significantly alter animal distribution and behavior, increasing human-wildlife contact.
- Climate change exacerbates the spread of zoonotic diseases through vector populations.
- Changes in land use and wildlife exploitation are key drivers of zoonotic spillover events.
Conclusions:
- Mitigating human impact on ecosystems is essential for reducing zoonotic disease emergence.
- Integrated approaches combining ecological and public health surveillance are needed.
- Proactive policies addressing human activities can enhance global health security.
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