From the Research
Comprehensive statistics for zoonotic diseases in India for the complete year 2024 are not yet available as the year is still ongoing. Based on partial data and trends, India continues to face significant challenges with several zoonotic diseases including rabies (approximately 20,000 annual deaths), Japanese encephalitis (several thousand cases reported), leptospirosis (particularly in flood-affected regions), and scrub typhus (endemic in many states with thousands of cases) 1. COVID-19, while declining from peak levels, remains present with new variants being monitored. Avian influenza outbreaks have been reported in poultry in several states, though human cases remain rare. Anthrax outbreaks have occurred sporadically, particularly in southern and eastern states. Kyasanur Forest Disease continues to affect western regions, especially Karnataka. These diseases persist due to India's large rural population, close human-animal contact in agricultural settings, climate conditions favorable for vector proliferation, and challenges in healthcare access in remote areas. Prevention efforts include vaccination programs (particularly for rabies and Japanese encephalitis), vector control measures, improved surveillance systems, and public education campaigns about animal handling and food safety practices 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors have greatly influenced the emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses 3. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases are like a sneaky game of "tag" between animals and humans, where the stakes are high and the consequences can be deadly, and from the bubonic plague to COVID-19, zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, reminding us of our interconnectedness with the animal kingdom and the importance of taking proactive measures to prevent their spread 5. Whether it is avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene, staying safe from zoonotic diseases is a game we all need to play 5. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi-disease, multi-sectoral and digital surveillance approaches are discussed 2. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. Our results imply that the SYS6008 rabies vaccine, with a much simpler vaccination procedure, better immunogenicity, and enhanced protective capacity, could be a candidate vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies infections 1. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus (RABV), is the most fatal zoonotic disease, and it is a neglected tropical disease which remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 1. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the high incidence of human rabies is mainly linked to tedious vaccine immunisation procedures and the overall high cost of post-exposure prophylaxis 1. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective vaccine that has a simple procedure and is affordable to prevent rabies infection in humans 1. Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) originating from domestic animals pose a significant risk to people's health and livelihoods, in addition to jeopardizing animal health and production 2. Effective surveillance of endemic zoonoses at the animal level is crucial to assessing the disease burden and risk, and providing early warning to prevent epidemics in animals and spillover to humans 2. A multi-criteria qualitative approach was used to prioritize and characterize zoonoses for which surveillance in domestic animals is important to prevent human infections at a global scale, and 32 zoonoses were prioritized, all of which have multi-regional spread, cause unexceptional human infections and have domestic animal hosts as important sources or sentinels of zoonotic infections 2. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis 3. Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another, and a zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals 3. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin, and this includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens 3. Extensive outbreaks of zoonotic disease are not uncommon, especially as the disease is often not recognised as zoonotic at the outset and may spread undetected for some time 4. However, in many instances, the direct impact on health of these new, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses has been small compared to that of other infectious diseases affecting humans 4. To illustrate the tremendous indirect impact of emerging zoonotic diseases on public health policy and structures and on public perception of health risks, the authors provide a number of examples, including that of the Ebola virus, avian influenza, monkeypox and bovine spongiform encephalopathy 4. Recent epidemics of these diseases have served as a reminder of the existence of infectious diseases and of the capacity of these diseases to occur unexpectedly in new locations and animal species 4. The need for greater international co-operation, better local, regional and global networks for communicable disease surveillance and pandemic planning is also illustrated by these examples 4. These diseases have contributed to the definition of new paradigms, especially relating to food safety policies and more generally to the protection of public health 4. Finally, the examples described emphasise the importance of intersectorial collaboration for disease containment, and of independence of sectorial interests and transparency when managing certain health risks 4. The authors describe the direct and indirect implications for public health of emerging zoonoses, and direct implications are defined as the consequences for human health in terms of morbidity and mortality, while indirect implications are defined as the effect of the influence of emerging zoonotic disease on two groups of people, namely: health professionals and the general public 4. Professional assessment of the importance of these diseases influences public health practices and structures, the identification of themes for research and allocation of resources at both national and international levels 4. The perception of the general public regarding the risks involved considerably influences policy-making in the health field 4. Many new, emerging and re-emerging diseases of humans are caused by pathogens which originate from animals or products of animal origin, and a wide variety of animal species, both domestic and wild, act as reservoirs for these pathogens, which may be viruses, bacteria or parasites 4. Given the extensive distribution of the animal species affected, the effective surveillance, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases pose a significant challenge 4. A wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens can be transmitted from animals to humans, and more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin 3. The emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses are influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors 3. Zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, and it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their spread, such as avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene 5. The challenges of animal health surveillance in endemic and resource-limited settings, as well as potential avenues for improvement such as the multi