World Zoonoses Day commemorates the first successful vaccination against a zoonotic disease.
On World Zoonoses Day on July 6, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS South Africa is calling for urgent, unified action to address the root causes of zoonotic diseases, which it identifies as a critical, growing public health concern in the country.
World Zoonoses Day commemorates the first successful vaccination against a zoonotic disease—a condition transmitted between animals and humans—in 1885. Today, as more than 60% of infectious diseases affecting humans originate in animals, prevention has become a central public health priority. "Zoonotic diseases are not distant threats; they are already impacting communities across South Africa," said Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa. "The way we treat animals, whether in our homes, on farms, or in the wild, directly affects human health. Improving animal welfare is one of the most effective ways to prevent future outbreaks".
Animals held in overcrowded, stressful, and unhygienic conditions suffer weakened immune systems.
Key Drivers of Risk
