Zoonoses

The grounding supports animal-to-human spillover as a general cause, with transmission linked to animal reservoirs and cross-species transmission. It also indicates that specific zoonotic diseases can be associated with particular vectors or animal hosts, such as phlebotomine sandflies for leishmaniases and bats for several emerging viral infections.

The biological basis is cross-species transmission of pathogens between animals and humans, including viral spillover and establishment in new hosts. The literature also emphasizes phylogeny, genome, biodiversity, and ecosystem context as relevant to understanding emergence and spread.

Risk is increased by close human-animal interactions and by ecological or environmental changes that increase opportunities for transmission. The grounding specifically mentions urbanization, deforestation, migration, inadequate housing, water and sanitation, increased breeding sites and blood sources for vectors, and interruption of vector control activities.

The supplied grounding does not support a disease-specific standard of care for zoonoses as a category. It only indicates broad prevention and control approaches, including vector control and efforts to develop vaccines and medicines for prevention and treatment in zoonotic viral disease contexts.