Zoonotic diseases are a threatening group of infectious diseases characterised by the transmission of pathogens between animals and humans. COVID-19 is perhaps the most prominent example alongside the black plague. These diseases play a crucial role in human history, as they have always influenced social life, healthcare systems and the global economy.
Climate change has a significant impact on the dynamics and spread of zoonotic diseases. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and more extreme weather events are creating new habitats and pathways for vectors and wildlife that serve as reservoirs for pathogens. These environmental changes can intensify interactions between humans and animals and increase the risk of zoonotic infections. Shifts in the geographic distribution of vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, as well as changes in ecosystems, make new areas and populations more susceptible to zoonotic diseases.
In today's globalised world, zoonoses have become massively more important. Epidemics and pandemics have impressively demonstrated how quickly zoonotic pathogens can spread worldwide and what impact they have on health and the economy. Climate change, urbanisation and the increasing interaction between humans and animals are further contributing to the spread of these diseases.
This book is dedicated to the study of zoonoses and the extent to which climate change measurably exacerbates zoonoses. It sheds light on their biological basis, the mechanisms of transmission and the various strategies for prevention and control.