Emerging zoonotic diseases and COVID-19 pandemic: global Perspective and Indian Scenario

Abstract

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is one example of the scores of zoonotic diseases responsible for various outbreaks resulting in the deaths of millions of people for centuries. The COVID-19 pandemic has broken the age-old healthcare infrastructure and led to utter chaos. In the shadow of this pandemic, other zoonotic infections like the nipah virus, monkeypox, and langya virus, to name a few, have been neglected. Hence, outbreaks caused by such zoonotic viruses are rising in their endemic areas, like the Indian subcontinent. The mortality and morbidity due to such zoonoses are greater than usual due to the shortage of healthcare professionals caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Due to the lack of vaccines and therapeutics directed against this viral infection, treatment of patients is limited to supportive management and prevention, making preparedness for these potential zoonotic viral outbreaks essential. This paper highlights some of these zoonotic infections, which perpetuated and wreaked havoc while the world was occupied with containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

A comprehensive review of Langya virus and framework for future zoonotic disease control

“…Recent epidemics of SARS‐CoV, MERS‐CoV, and SARS‐CoV‐2 raise greater concern than ever before about the possibility of future pandemics caused by zoonotic spillover pathogens like LayV 8–10 . Cases of sporadic Avian flu emphasise continued risk of outbreak 11 .…”

“…The most recent COVID‐19 pandemic is a prime example of how a spillover disease can have catastrophic global consequences. To detect and mitigate the impact of future pandemics in a timely manner, researchers must stay abreast of daily developments in knowledge while fostering cross‐sector collaboration to enhance surveillance and response capabilities, develop effective treatments and vaccines, and strengthen the resilience of healthcare systems 8,9,12,13 …”

An urgent call for action: addressing the unprecedented rise in dengue cases in the Americas

“…The resurgence of dengue, a viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, in the Americas has emerged as a pressing concern 1 , 2 . The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO), in their latest epidemiological update dated 29 March 2024, provides a stark revelation of the escalating dengue crisis across the continent, underscoring a situation that demands immediate and concerted action from all stakeholders involved in public health and disease prevention 3 .…”