Emerging and Re-emerging Zoonotic Diseases: Challenges and Opportunities

There are a number of factors and driving forces that have converged to create a new era of emerging and re-emerging diseases. This era is likely to continue for some time with profound implications for both human and animal health. Because approximately 75% of the new emerging human diseases over the last several decades are zoonotic, this era is also characterized by a greater convergence of animal and public health programs, officials, and organizations. This growing interdependence presents animal health officials and the OIE with significant challenges and opportunities. The responses to a recent questionnaire distributed to OIE Member Countries revealed that animal health officials worldwide are experiencing more emerging and re-emerging diseases; finding more antimicrobial-resistant pathogens; experiencing a growing number of factors that will ensure future zoonoses; and are increasingly concerned about the introduction or re-emergence of zoonotic pathogens either through natural or intentional means. Clearly, OIE Member Countries are anticipating a closer working relationship with their public health counterparts and many are organizing to become more collaborative. The responses to the questionnaire also indicated an almost unanimous support for the OIE to both become more engaged in training and educational programs for emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, and to create an ad hoc group to address the contemporary and global issues created by these diseases and the growing need for more attention to surveillance, detection, response, and prevention strategies.