Zeroing in on zoonotic diseases
Zeroing in on zoonotic diseases
A cross-disciplinary network to tackle animal to human infections
Germany’s recent E.coli outbreak killed around 50 people and made another 4000 ill. Like many headline-grabbing infections and diseases of recent years – from Swine Flu to variant CJD and the Ebola virus – E.coli bacteria are ‘zoonotic’. In other words, they are transmitted from animals to humans through direct contact or via contaminated food or water. So can more be done to keep us safe from such threats?
The new Co-operative of Zoonoses Expertise and Experience (CoZEE) network believes it can. In fact, while over 60% of all human pathogens can be defined as zoonotic, almost all can potentially be prevented (e.g. through vaccination) or effectively treated.
So the Co-operative will drive forward research into prevention and treatment by harnessing skills and knowledge from across academia, government, industry, the veterinary profession and public health organisations. Developing innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches will be a primary focus.
Bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi all play a role in transmitting zoonoses from domestic, livestock and wild animals to humans, sometimes with the help of intermediaries such as mosquitos. And climate change is almost certain to encourage zoonoses’ emergence and spread in future.
“Hundreds of thousands of people are already affected by zoonotic infections and diseases each year, especially in developing countries,” says Dr Lee Innes of Edinburgh’s Moredun Research Institute, who is a member of the Co-operative’s Steering Group. “But tackling them is rarely seen as a priority, except when a virulent outbreak occurs. We aim to help deliver a step change in the way this class of pathogen is combated.”