Climate change and contagion: the emerging threat of zoonotic diseases in Africa

This article investigates the escalating occurrence of zoonotic diseases in Africa, attributing their spread to climate change and human activities. Africa's unique combination of biodiversity, reliance on animal husbandry, and swift urbanization heightens its susceptibility. Climate change dis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infection ecology & epidemiology 2025, Vol.15 (1), p.2441534
Main Authors: Edward, Majani, Heniedy, Amira M, Saminu, Abdullahi, Florence Mary, J Jenifer, Ahmed, Duaa A, Engmann, Stephen T, Onyeaghala, Chizaram, Shah, Safieh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Rapid Communication
Short Communication
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Summary:This article investigates the escalating occurrence of zoonotic diseases in Africa, attributing their spread to climate change and human activities. Africa's unique combination of biodiversity, reliance on animal husbandry, and swift urbanization heightens its susceptibility. Climate change disrupts ecosystems and animal habitats, intensifying human-wildlife interactions. Urbanization, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure further facilitate disease spread. Climate-induced displacement adds another layer of complexity. Mitigation strategies include improving surveillance systems, fostering early detection via point-of-care diagnostics and digital contact tracing, and investing in vaccines and therapeutics. Our purpose of this is to advocate for sustainable land use, robust community-level public health systems, international cooperation, and resource-sharing. We also emphasize the need for effective vector-control policies, dedicated research funding, and annual awareness, vaccination, and early detection campaigns in endemic regions.
ISSN:2000-8686
2000-8686
DOI:10.1080/20008686.2024.2441534