New England Public Health Training Center
An Introduction to Zoonoses and Vectorborne Diseases and their Drivers
This is an all levels course offering CPH, CHES, and MCHES — Free
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Expires

CEU

CPH
CHES
MCHES

Cost

Free

Tags

Time to Start

< 3 minutes

Length

2.00 hours

Overview

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In the first of four screencasts the public health practitioner is introduced to zoonoses and vectorborne diseases and how they differ from other infectious diseases. In subsequent screencasts, the factors (drivers) that influence zoonoses and vectorborne disease are explained, including human systems, human-animal-environment interaction, and environmental change. Multiple disease-specific examples are provided, including COVID-19.

Zoonotic diseases are those that can be passed between humans and other vertebrate animals and vectorborne disease are those that are transmitted by an arthropod vector like a flea or tick. Because non-human animals serve as a disease reservoir or vector, disease prevention and control strategies differ from other infectious diseases. More than half, an estimated 60%, of all the kinds of infections that people can get are zoonotic and 75% of emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19, are zoonotic. There are many human-driven factors that influence zoonotic disease emergence and re-emergence. These drivers include infrastructure, travel and trade, culture, agricultural intensification, interaction with domestic and wild animals, climate change, land use, and biodiversity. In this series of four screencasts, you will be introduced to zoonotic and vectorborne diseases and their drivers.

What You'll Learn

Introduction to Zoonoses and Vectorborne Diseases

  • Define zoonoses, vectorborne diseases, emerging zoonotic diseases, reverse zoonoses, reservoir host, amplification, dead-end host, and spillover
  • List key drivers of zoonotic and vectorborne diseases
  • Describe how the following disease prevention and control tools differ for zoonotic and vectorborne diseases: education, surveillance, vector control, diagnostics, outbreak investigation, host identification, and vaccination
  • Define One Health and explain why this approach is useful for addressing zoonotic and vector-borne diseases

Drivers of Zoonotic Diseases: Human Systems

  • List key drivers of zoonotic and vectorborne diseases related to human systems and culture
  • Provide examples of how infrastructure influences zoonotic and vectorborne diseases
  • Provide examples of zoonotic and vectorborne diseases that have emerged as a result of human travel and trade
  • Provide examples of how culture impacts zoonotic and vectorborne disease

Drivers of Zoonotic Diseases: Human-animal-environment Interactions

  • List key drivers of zoonotic and vectorborne disease related to human-animal interactions
  • Provide examples of diseases that can be spread from pets and livestock to people
  • Explain how agricultural systems influence zoonotic and vectorborne diseases
  • Provide examples of zoonotic and vectorborne diseases that can result from human or domestic animal interaction with wildlife

Drivers of Zoonotic Diseases: Environmental Change

  • List three key environmental drivers that impact zoonotic and vectorborne disease
  • Provide examples of zoonotic and vectorborne disease influenced by weather and climate
  • Explain how land use and ecosystem disruption can impact zoonotic and vectorborne diseases
  • Explain how biodiversity can impact zoonotic and vectorborne diseases

Competency Terms

Public Health Science Skills

Related Occupations

Environmentalist
Other Veterinarian
Public health - multiple occupations will benefit

Related Job Tasks

Assess and monitor population health status, factors that influence health, and community needs and assets
Investigate, diagnose, and address health problems and hazards affecting the population

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