ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ZOONOTIC DISEASES ON PUBLIC HEALTH: A CASE STUDY OF EMERGING PATHOGENS IN WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases continue to pose a critical and escalating threat to global public health, driven by intensified interactions among wildlife, livestock, humans, and the environment. This study assessed the public health impact of emerging zoonotic pathogens using an integrated mixed-methods approach that combined epidemiological surveillance, quantitative modeling, and visual analytics across wildlife–livestock–human interfaces. The results revealed substantial regional variability in pathogen prevalence, with wildlife populations acting as primary reservoirs and livestock serving as amplification hosts that significantly increased human infection risk. Human incidence rates demonstrated a strong positive association with livestock prevalence, while mortality outcomes were disproportionately higher in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure and surveillance capacity. Seasonal analyses identified pronounced transmission peaks linked to environmental conditions, and occupational assessments confirmed elevated exposure risks among farmers, abattoir workers, and wildlife handlers. Antimicrobial resistance patterns further underscored the role of intensive farming and antibiotic misuse in exacerbating zoonotic threats. Economic evaluations highlighted considerable healthcare and productivity losses, emphasizing the broader socioeconomic burden of zoonotic outbreaks. Integrated risk indices and surveillance performance metrics demonstrated that regions implementing One Health-based monitoring systems exhibited improved outbreak detection and reduced disease impact. Overall, the findings underscore the necessity of adopting a unified One Health framework that integrates human, animal, and environmental health disciplines to strengthen surveillance, mitigate spillover risks, and enhance global preparedness against emerging zoonotic diseases.