THE ROLE OF COMPANION ANIMALS IN SPREADING COVID-19.

Objective: In the twenty-first century, despite the development in infection management, and improvement of vaccines and therapeutic agents in the field of health, new viral outbreaks that can still be fatal in humans and animals are emerging. The infection of zoonosis COVID-19 from bat origin, the intermediate host of which is still being unclear, has appeared in people who visited animal bazaar in December 2019, in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared this infection a pandemic in February 2020. Millions of people have been affected by this pandemic. The fight against the pandemic has had a great economic cost and continues to do so. Even people have changed their lifestyle. In this context, there have been concerns about companion animals with COVID-19 transmission, from human to animal or animal to human. The purpose of this review was to examine the studies on the presence and transmission of COVID-19 in companion animals such as cats, dogs, hamsters and horses. Result and Discussion: It has been reported in studies that most of the companion animals (cat, dog and hamster) were susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, and humans could be a source of infection for them. However, the potential role of companion animals in transmission to humans is not fully known. It is clear from this pandemic that the necessity of epidemiological investigation of infectious agents, especially zoonotic ones, in one health concept has emerged once again.Copyright © 2022 University of Ankara. All rights reserved.

Urban Green Spaces in Brazil: Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, urban green spaces were considered less prone to contagion, and thus people adopted them as alternative sites for improving mental health. The One Health concept advocated by health organizations worldwide supports the idea that the well-being of urban residents is strongly linked with physical activity in green areas. As the world grapples with the physical and mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes clearer that access to urban green spaces is a human rights issue. This study compared previously-mapped urban green spaces in five metropolitan regions in Brazil with the results of an extensive survey of municipal managers concerning possible increase in demand of population for green spaces. Urban green spaces of over 625 m2 were mapped in 117 municipalities, the total area of 4170 km2 representing 37.4% of the urban spaces analyzed in the five metropolitan regions. Out of these 117 municipalities, 49 had data available concerning demands of green spaces in the pandemic context. Overall, 20 municipalities (representing all five metropolitan regions) stated that there was an increase in visitation in urban green spaces, and 13 more indirectly suggested possible demands. When sustainability transitions are understood as geographical processes that happen in concrete places, urban green spaces then represent real locations where sustainable transitions can begin. The unequal distribution of these spaces also brings into consideration a social justice perspective, as well as aspects of public health that involve climate change resilience and epidemiological risk (SDG 11). © 2023, Scientific Publishing House of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University. All rights reserved.

Building capacity on One Health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: Connecting disciplines in the Philippines

Background and Aim: There have been limited capacity-building activities on One Health in the Philippines. To contribute to capacity development in One Health, the authors conducted the first short course on One Health in the country for health, allied health, and collaborating professionals. This study aimed to review the preparation and implementation of the One Health course and describe the challenges and opportunities of conducting the course during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): The course curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary group of experts. The objectives for the course were as follows: (1) Describe the concept, scope, and applications of One Health;(2) identify social and economic factors influencing food security and safety, control of zoonoses, and combating antimicrobial resistance;and (3) describe the challenges and opportunities in applying the One Health approach to achieve better public health outcomes. Recruitment of participants was based on predetermined criteria. The 3-day course was conducted online through Zoom. Pre and post-tests as well as the evaluation of the course were administered through Google forms. Result(s): The 3-day online course was attended by 136 participants from 15 of the 17 administrative regions of the country. A multidisciplinary group of experts delivered a total of 11 lectures divided into the following sessions: (1) Fundamentals of One Health;(2) Interrelatedness of Human, Animal, and Environmental Health;and (3) Applications of One Health. Conclusion(s): As the first One Health course in the Philippines, this 3-day course demonstrated the feasibility of conducting capacity-building on One Health for a multidisciplinary group of participants during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic. It may serve as a model for similar and more in-depth courses on One Health for specific groups in the future and has set the stage for intersectoral communication and education, providing an avenue for collaboration for professionals in various disciplines, and facilitating the expansion of One Health network in the Philippines.Copyright © Ampo, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Monkeypox: A review of a zoonotic disease of global public health concern.

Background: The rising circulation of the monkeypox virus while the COVID-19 is still ongoing in non-endemic countries is a significant global health threat. In this article, we have discussed the epidemiology, aetiology, and pathogenesis of the monkeypox virus to provide our current knowledge of the disease. Also, we discussed the ongoing efforts of the international health organizations to curtail the present epidemic and we finally provide recommendations for early detection and response. Methods: We did a rapid literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other trusted databases for recent articles (1958-2022) published in English-focusing on the outbreaks of monkeypox disease, epidemiology, pathogenesis, aetiology, prevention, and control in endemic and non-endemic countries. Keywords such as "Monkeypox", "Monkeypox virus", "Poxviridae", "Orthopoxvirus", "Smallpox", and "Smallpox Vaccine" were considered in our search based on MESH medical subject headings. Results: Our review highlights four important findings. First, a cumulative of 1285 monkeypox cases have been documented and reported by the WHO in non-endemic countries as of June 8, 2022. Second, international travel contributes to the increase in cases in non-endemic countries. Third, the origin of the outbreak, the pattern of transmission, and the risk of infections is not fully understood. Fourth, there is an ongoing effort by the WHO, CDC, and other international health organization to control the spread of the monkeypox disease. Conclusion: Our findings underline the need to reassess research priorities on the origin, transmission pattern, and risk factors for infection of monkeypox. Also, we provide recommendations under the One Health spectrum to prevent further spread of the disease.

One health surveillance strategy for coronaviruses in Italian wildlife.

The recent reinforcement of CoV surveillance in animals fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic provided increasing evidence that mammals other than bats might hide further diversity and play critical roles in human infectious diseases. This work describes the results of a two-year survey carried out in Italy with the double objective of uncovering CoV diversity associated with wildlife and of excluding the establishment of a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 in particularly susceptible or exposed species. The survey targeted hosts from five different orders and was harmonised across the country in terms of sample size, target tissues, and molecular test. Results showed the circulation of 8 CoV species in 13 hosts out of the 42 screened. Coronaviruses were either typical of the host species/genus or normally associated with their domestic counterpart. Two novel viruses likely belonging to a novel CoV genus were found in mustelids. All samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2, with minimum detectable prevalence ranging between 0.49% and 4.78% in the 13 species reaching our threshold sample size of 59 individuals. Considering that within-species transmission in white-tailed deer resulted in raising the prevalence from 5% to 81% within a few months, this result would exclude a sustained cycle after spillback in the tested species.

Supporting One Health for Pandemic Prevention: The Need for Ethical Innovation.

Bioethics is a field in which innovation is required to help prevent and respond to zoonotic diseases with the potential to cause epidemics and pandemics. Some of the developments necessary to fight pandemics, such as COVID-19 vaccines, require public debate on the benefits and risks of individual choice versus responsibility to society. While these debates are necessary, a more fundamental ethical innovation to rebalance human, animal, and environmental interests is also needed. One Health (OH) can be characterized as a strategy that recognizes and promotes the synergy between human, animal, and environmental health. Yet, despite the recognition that these entities are interdependent, there is a pronounced inequality in the power relations between human, non-human animal, and the environmental interests which threatens the well-being of all. Until OH can ensure the moral status of animals and the environment and thereby the equal consideration of these interests, it will struggle to protect non-human interests and, as a result, human health. To create a sustainable health system requires a renewed concept of justice that is ecocentric in nature and an application of OH that is flexible and responsive to different ethical interests (e.g., person-centred care and physician responsibilities). Ultimately, to save themselves, humans must now think beyond themselves. Bioethics must assume a key role in supporting the developments required to create and maintain relationships able to sustain environmental and human health.

Unravelling Antigenic Cross-Reactions toward the World of Coronaviruses: Extent of the Stability of Shared Epitopes and SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike Cross-Neutralizing Antibodies.

The human immune repertoire retains the molecular memory of a very great diversity of target antigens (epitopes) and can recall this upon a second encounter with epitopes against which it has previously been primed. Although genetically diverse, proteins of coronaviruses exhibit sufficient conservation to lead to antigenic cross-reactions. In this review, our goal is to question whether pre-existing immunity against seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) or exposure to animal CoVs has influenced the susceptibility of human populations to SARS-CoV-2 and/or had an impact upon the physiopathological outcome of COVID-19. With the hindsight that we now have regarding COVID-19, we conclude that although antigenic cross-reactions between different coronaviruses exist, cross-reactive antibody levels (titers) do not necessarily reflect on memory B cell frequencies and are not always directed against epitopes which confer cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the immunological memory of these infections is short-term and occurs in only a small percentage of the population. Thus, in contrast to what might be observed in terms of cross-protection at the level of a single individual recently exposed to circulating coronaviruses, a pre-existing immunity against HCoVs or other CoVs can only have a very minor impact on SARS-CoV-2 circulation at the level of human populations.

COVID 19 and one health: potential role of human and animals in SARS-COV-2 life cycle

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in humans has zoonotic tendencies, which can potentially provoke cross-species transmission, including human-to-animal and animal-to-human infection. Consequently, the objective was to analyze the scientific evidence regarding SARS-CoV-2 animal infections from potential human transmission. A systematic review was executed following the PRISMA guidelines, in the PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and LILACS, using the descriptors combined in the following way: (("SARS-CoV-2” OR "COVID-19” OR "2019-nCoV”) AND (animals OR zoonosis)). The results contemplated the viral susceptibility of about thirty animal species when induced naturally and/or experimentally. The mink & hamster species demonstrated ostensible animal-human transmission. Overall, there have been more reports of human contamination by other species than human retransmission from the pathogen. The natural infection of the virus was discovered in domestic dogs & cats, wild cats, deer, minks, rabbits, and hamsters. Several animals, including the African green monkeys and rabbits, manifested high levels of viremia, respiratory secretions, and fecal excretions of infectious virus conducive to environmental/aerosol transmission. It is still inadequately documented the intrinsic role of such processes, such as, the animals' involvement in viral mutations, the emergence of new variants/lineages and the role of the animal host species. Accordingly, this research model type, natural and experimental analysis on varying animal species, corroborates the link between the two aforementioned forms of transmission. Epidemiological surveillance through extensive sequencing of the viral genomes of infected animals and humans can reveal the SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes and anticipate appropriate prophylactic strategies.

Applications of the One Health concept: Current status in the Middle East

Background: The One Health concept (OHC) seeks to improve the health of plants, animals, and humans because improving animal and plant health will increase the capacity for improving human health. Many risks such as plant and animal biotechnology applications have the potential to generate new diseases that can be transmitted to humans. In this way, the health of humans, animals, and plants is interrelated and depends on one another. However, it has been difficult to apply the OHC in some countries, such as those in the Middle East. The absence of financial support in the region is a major hindrance to applying this concept in the region. The application of the OHC requires the support of specialists who can advocate the government for support in launching OHC-related projects. Here, we discuss the OHC in the context of antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases, and biosafety/biosecurity, which are important public health issues. Furthermore, we describe the current status of the OHC in the Middle East and recent research conducted related to this concept. There has been recent international solidarity in the application of the OHC to reduce risks that threaten the health of organisms. Several countries jointly launched the Global Health Security Agenda in 2014 with the aim of realizing a world that is free of infectious disease-related health risks. However, no previous review articles have examined the applications of the OHC in the Middle East region. This article discusses the OHC in terms of its needs and current applications in the Middle East. Methodology: The following keywords were used in the search: "One Health," "Middle East," "medicinal plants," "viruses," "rabies," "MERS," and "antimicrobial resistance." Related papers were obtained by searching for these keywords using available search engines, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google search, as well as international organization websites. Conclusion(s): The concept of One Health is relatively new and has not been applied in most countries, possibly because the value of this concept for improving human health is not well understood. The key principle defining this concept and its importance is the interdependency of plants, animals, and human health. By applying the OHC, humans can benefit from healthy plants and animals by enhancing their growing conditions, medications, and environments. This would in turn improve general human health by allowing the safe extraction of therapeutics and food resources.Copyright © 2023

Exposure of wild Caspian seals (Pusa caspica) to parasites, bacterial and viral pathogens, evaluated via molecular and serological assays

Disease surveillance of marine mammal populations is essential to understand the causes of strandings, identify potential threats to animal health, and to support development of conservation strategies. Here we report the first large multi-pathogen screening of prevalence for viruses, bacteria and parasites in a sample of 177 live, healthy, wild Caspian seals (Pusa caspica), captured and released during satellite telemetry studies 2007-2017. Employing molecular and serological assays we assess prevalence of pathogens known to be of significance for marine mammal health worldwide, and evaluate the results in relation to Caspian seal health and conservation. RT-PCR, and PCR assays find evidence for infection by Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), Phocine herpes virus, phocine adenovirus and Influenza A at prevalences of 5%, 6.4%, 21.7%, and 4% respectively. The genomes of CDV isolates collected in 2008 showed 99.59% identity with the 2000 Caspian seal CDV epizootic strain. A partial coding sequence for the Us2 gene from the Caspian seal herpes virus was identical to PhHV-1 isolate PB84, previously reported from a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), while amplicon sequences for the adenovirus polymerase gene indicated a novel strain. ELISA assays detected exposure to Influenza A (55% of tested samples), adenovirus (25%), coronavirus (6%), CDV (8%), herpes virus (94%), Toxoplasma gondii (2.6%) and heartworm (1%). Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests detected exposure to Influenza B at a prevalence of 20%, and Leptospira microscopic agglutination tests detected suspected exposure to Leptospira serovars in 9% of tested samples. Overall, the risks, profile and prevalence of pathogens in Caspian seals appear comparable to other wild phocid seal populations. Our results suggest Caspian seals have exposure pathways to pathogens with epizootic potential or ability to cause significant morbidity, and that disease impacts could reduce the resilience of the population to other conservation threats. Caspian seals are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and we recommend that resources are invested to support further surveillance programs and to understand how anthropogenic pressures may influence future disease risks. A translated version of this is available in Russian and Kazakh in the Supplementary Material (Presentation 1 and Presentation 2)

Covid-19: A Multi-Host Pandemic

SARS-CoV-2, the causal agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, is related to a group of viruses (Sarbecovirus) that circulate in horseshoe bats. Its origin is still uncertain, as there is lack of an identifiable intermediate host species for the proximal animal ancestor of SARS-CoV-2. Irrespective of its origin, SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to replicate in many mammalian species. So far, over forty species have been found to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and natural infections have been documented in at least 23 species of distant mammalian orders, including Primata, Rodentia, Carnivora, and Arthiodactyla. In two of those species, minks and white tailed deer, continued transmission among conspecifics occurred following introduction of SARS-CoV-2 from humans, at a rate which makes mink farms and deer populations suitable compartments where the virus may be maintained and evolve, and then perhaps spill back to humans or other animals as a new variant, as suggested by molecular evidence. Considering the above, what is truly unique about this pandemic, and adds a major obstacle to attain its control, is its multi-host nature. This is another compelling example of the relevance of the 'One Health' approach. This approach recognizes the inextricable links between people and nature, and visualizes the health and disease phenomenon from an integrative perspective. The COVID-19 pandemic urges us to acknowledge the interconnection between people and the remaining forms of life, and with the environments they share, and demonstrates that the improvement of global health needs a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach, acting at the local, regional and global levels. This concept becomes paramount when taking into account that most diseases affecting humans in the last decades -not only COVID-19 - have been caused by pathogens originated in animals.Copyright © 2023

Human coronaviruses in the 'One Health' context

Seven human coronaviruses have been identified so far: four seasonal coronaviruses (HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1) and three novel coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2). While seasonal coronaviruses cause only mild symptoms, novel coronaviruses cause severe and potentially fatal infections. All known coronaviruses originated in animals. Bats are considered as an origin for the majority of coronaviruses capable of infecting humans;however, rodents are proposed as natural hosts for HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1. Different animal species could serve as intermediate hosts including alpacas (HCoV-229E), livestock (HCoV-OC43), civet cats (SARS-CoV), camels (MERS-CoV), and pangolins (SARS-CoV-2). In Croatia, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in humans, pet animals, wildlife, and the environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the role of the 'One Health' approach in the surveillance of zoonotic diseases.Copyright © 2022, University Hospital of Infectious Diseases. All rights reserved.

Insight of Zoonotic Viruses at Human-Animal Interfaces in Cambodia

*Presenting author Emerging infectious diseases have been causing outbreaks in humans for centuries and most infectious diseases originate in animals. Re-emerging zoonotic pathogens are rapidly increasing in prevalence or geographic range and causing a significant and growing threat to global health. The present work provides an insight of zoonotic viruses risk at human-bat/rodent interfaces in Cambodia. We conducted studies to investigate the circulation of zoonotic viruses and the risk of exposure in human living at the interfaces with bats and rodents. Rodent's samples were collected in rural and urban areas of Cambodia. Organs were tested for Hantavirus, Orthohepevirus species C and Arenavirus. Bat's samples were collected in Steung Treng for Sarbecovirus and in Battambang and Kandal for Nipah virus detection. People working/living at the human-animal interfaces were screened for IgG antibodies. In rodents (750), hantavirus was detected in 3.3% rodents from urban areas only. Seoul orthohantavirus was the most predominant virus followed by Thottapalayam virus. HEV-C was detected only in rodents from urban settings (1.8%). Arenavirus was detected in both rural (6.8%) and urban (2.5%) areas. In humans (788), the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against hantavirus, HEV-A and Arenavirus was 10.0%, 24% and 23.4% respectively. NiV was detected in flying fox's urines collected between 2013-2016 in Kandal (0.63%) and in Battambang (1.03%). Blood samples collected in both provinces were negative for NiV antibodies. SARS-CoV-2 related virus was detected in Rhinolphus shameli in Steung Treng in 2010, 2020 and 2021. Blood samples from people living at the vicinity of positive bats were positive for antibodies against CoV (7.7%), but no specific neutralizing SARS-CoV2 antibodies were detected. Our studies provided insight of the risk of zoonoses in Cambodia and highlighted the importance of zoonotic surveillance and further One Health effort to prevent, detect, and respond to future cross-species transmission.Copyright © 2023

Advancing the prevention and control of zoonoses supported by One Health approach.

With the acceleration of globalization, the sustained increase of mobility, the intensification of global warming and environmental changes, the transmission of diseases has become more diverse. In recent years, the corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19) has caused huge economic losses and social unrest around the world. A single-discipline has been unable to solve such complex public health problems effectively. The proposal and development of the One Health approach is closely related to the issues on veterinary medicine and zoonoses. One Health focuses on intradisciplinary, multi-sectoral, and cross-fields collaboration at three levels, including local, regional and global levels, to explore the humans-animals-environment interface complexity. In this review, the development process of One Health approach was introduced. The relationship between the One Health and zoonoses, the role of the One Health in the prevention and control of zoonoses, and how to effectively implement the One Health approach in the real world were explored, providing references for research on zoonoses prevention and control, anti-microbial resistance, food safety, and the impact of climate change on health.Copyright © 2022, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases. All rights reserved.

The strategy on One Health development in China based on SWOT analysis.

The pandemic of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide has prompted the use One Health concept to solve health problems and improve the public health governance system. Using the Superiority Weakness Opportunity Threats (SWOT) analysis method to analyze the opportunities and challenges brought by the current development of One Health in China. The results show that the current advantage is that the Chinese government attaches great importance to One Health, and Chinese scholars are also actively involved in the development of One Health, but there are still disadvantages of weak foundation and low international influence. At the same time, with the opportunity for more recognition of the concept of One Health in the world, China is facing challenges such as insufficient talent competitiveness and unbalanced development in the development of One Health. In this regard, this paper puts forward the strategies and key research contents for developing One Health in China to provide ideas for promoting the development of One Health in China.Copyright © 2022, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases. All rights reserved.

Integrated surveillance and early warning system for emerging infectious diseases based on One Health concept: Structures and innovations.

One Health is an upgrade and optimization of health concepts, which recognizes the integrated health of the human-animal-environment. It emphasizes the use of interdisciplinary collaboration, multi-sectoral coordination, and multi-organizational One Health approaches to solve scientific questions. The surveillance and early warning system is the basis of public health emergency prevention and control. The COVID-19 pandemic and the emerging infectious disease (EID) have put great challenges on the existing surveillance and early warning systems worldwide. Guided by the concept of One Health, we attempt to build a new pattern of integrated surveillance and early warning system for EID. We will detail the system including the One Health-based organizational structure, zoonotic and environmental science surveillance network, EID reporting process, and support and guarantee from education and policy. The integrated surveillance and early warning system for EID constructed here has practical and application prospects, and will provide guidance for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and the possible EID in the future.Copyright © 2022, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases. All rights reserved.

Lessons Not (Yet) Learned: What African Countries Could Teach the Global North about One Health during the Pandemics

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the extraordinary importance of pandemic preparedness for public policy. The article argues that the cases of entrepreneurial and exemplary implementation of the intersectoral and bottom-up One Health policy in Africa can be a chance for the Global North to enhance pandemic preparedness under a changing climate. Using document analysis and participatory observation, the article draws on two case studies illustrating the multisectoral and bottom-up approaches, respectively. The cases demonstrate how the bottom-up community inclusiveness developed during the Ebola outbreak enhanced pandemic preparedness, and how community resilience was improved through sustainable entrepreneurs implementing One Health policies. The article draws important policy lessons for more resilient health systems in the Global North. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Biodiversity and public health interface / Biodiversidade e a interface com a saúde pública

Abstract Alongside modernity, the human activity has been a key factor in global environmental risks, with worldwide anthropic modification being the cause of the emergence of diseases for wild and livestock animals, and even humans. In special, the increase in the spatial distribution and in the incidence of some emerging infectious diseases (EID) are directly associated to deforestation and global climate changes. Moreover, the arise of new EID agents, such as the SARS-COV-2 have been reported for the last 30 years. On the other hand, biodiversity has been shown to be a key indicator for ecosystem health, and to pose a role to increase the promotion of human public health. In neotropical regions, and in special, in Brazil, several infectious diseases have been demonstrated to be directly affected for the biodiversity loss, such as malaria, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, yellow fever, urban arboviruses, spotted fever, amongst other. To better understand the ecosystem capacity of regulation of infectious diseases, FAPESP BIOTA program have supported researchers and research projects to increase knowledge about Brazilian biodiversity and the ecosystems, such as diversity of bird bioagents, venomous animals biodiversity, diversity of mosquitos species in forest patches inside urban areas, propagation of the yellow fever virus over fragmented forest territories, loss of ecological corridors and occurrence of spotted fever and malaria, amongst others. It is noteworthy that FAPESP BIOTA is a successful program and must be expanded as an important tool for present and future public health promotion.

Resumo Junto à modernidade, a atividade humana tem sido um fator chave ligada aos riscos ambientais globais, as modificações antrópicas em âmbito mundial têm sido causa do surgimento de doenças para os animais silvestres e domésticos, bem como para o ser humano. Em especial, o incremento na distribuição espacial e incidência de doenças infecciosas emergentes (DIE) estão diretamente associados ao desmatamento e às mudanças climáticas globais, além disso, o surgimento de novos agentes de DIE, como o SARS-COV-2, tem sido relatado nos últimos 30 anos. Por outro lado, a biodiversidade tem se mostrado um indicador chave para a saúde dos ecossistemas, além de representar um papel importante na promoção da saúde pública humana. Nas regiões neotropicais, e em especial, no Brasil, várias doenças infecciosas têm demonstrado ser diretamente afetadas pela perda de biodiversidade, como a malária, a síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus, a febre amarela, as arboviroses urbanas, a febre maculosa, entre outras. Para entender melhor a capacidade ecossistêmica de regulação de doenças infecciosas, o programa BIOTA FAPESP tem apoiado pesquisadores e projetos de pesquisa para aumentar o conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade e os ecossistemas brasileiros, como a diversidade de bioagentes de aves, a biodiversidade de animais peçonhentos, a diversidade de espécies de mosquitos em fragmentos florestais dentro de áreas urbanas, a propagação do vírus da febre amarela em território florestal fragmentado, perda e isolamento de remanescentes florestais e a ocorrência de febre maculosa e malária, entre outros. Ressalta-se que o BIOTA FAPESP é um programa de sucesso e deve ser ampliado como importante ferramenta de promoção da saúde pública presente e futura.

One Health: navigating plague in Madagascar amidst COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Africa sees the surge of plague cases in recent decades, with hotspots in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Peru. A rodent-borne scourge, the bacterial infection known as plague is transmitted to humans via the sneaky bites of fleas, caused by Yersinia pestis. Bubonic plague has a case fatality rate of 20.8% with treatment, but in places such as Madagascar the mortality rate can increase to 40-70% without treatment. MAIN TEXT: Tragedy strikes in the Ambohidratrimo district as three lives are claimed by the plague outbreak and three more fight for survival in the hospitals, including one man in critical condition, from the Ambohimiadana, Antsaharasty, and Ampanotokana communes, bringing the total plague victims in the area to a grim to five. Presently, the biggest concern is the potential plague spread among humans during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Effective disease control can be achieved through training and empowering local leaders and healthcare providers in rural areas, implementing strategies to reduce human-rodent interactions, promoting water, sanitation and hygiene practices (WASH) practices, and carrying out robust vector, reservoir and pest control, diversified animal surveillance along with human surveillance should be done to more extensively to fill the lacunae of knowledge regarding the animal to human transmission. The lack of diagnostic laboratories equipped represents a major hurdle in the early detection of plague in rural areas. To effectively combat plague, these tests must be made more widely available. Additionally, raising awareness among the general population through various means such as campaigns, posters and social media about the signs, symptoms, prevention, and infection control during funerals would greatly decrease the number of cases. Furthermore, healthcare professionals should be trained on the latest methods of identifying cases, controlling infections and protecting themselves from the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being endemic to Madagascar, the outbreak's pace is unparalleled, and it may spread to non-endemic areas. The utilization of a One Health strategy that encompasses various disciplines is crucial for minimizing catastrophe risk, antibiotic resistance, and outbreak readiness. Collaboration across sectors and proper planning ensures efficient and consistent communication, risk management, and credibility during disease outbreaks.