Abstract

Zoonosis is an increasing and very significant threat to global health, security and
economies. An ever-increasing and unstoppable number of human infectious diseases arise
from animals. Over 60 per cent of all human infectious disease are transmitted from animals
and 75 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases originate from animals. While we are in
the midst of an ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, recent decades have seen other
dramatically destructive novel diseases. COVID-19 may be the worst, but it is not the first.
Amongst the more prominent examples are: zoonotic influenza (Bird Flu), pandemic human
influenza (H1N1), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), most of which have a proven or suspected domestic animal involvement
in transmission. Improving the evidence base of links between environment and health,
identifying and communicating examples of co-benefits and building interdisciplinary
relationships across research themes are key challenges, which must be addressed to help
build a post-COVID-19 agenda where a healthy biosphere is recognized as a precondition
for human health and prosperity.