Researchers propose new framework to understand intersection of disease spread between humans and animals, disease emergence and land use change.
Researchers propose new framework to understand intersection of disease spread between humans and animals, disease emergence and land use change.
Research from the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington proposes a new way of understanding how diseases spread between animals and humans, by focusing on the effect that agriculture, ecological and sociopolitical factors have on disease emergence and transmission.
In an article published in the journal One Earth, the research team specifically considers how to minimize the emergence of zoonotic diseases, or new infectious diseases where pathogens are circulated between humans and domestic and wild animals. They recommend taking a more holistic approach and looking at broader factors that may be in play as new diseases sicken people.
“Right now, there is an oversimplification of the complex social reality that impacts disease spread,” said study co-author Luis Chaves, associate professor in the School of Public Health-Bloomington. “Most diseases are impacted by this. Why do we have transmission hotspots in certain areas but not others, despite having similar environments? It’s because both landscape change and how society works as a whole matter. Understanding this and reframing our thoughts is imperative to prevent future pandemics.”
Read more at Indiana University
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