Zoonoses (pronounced zoh-uh-NO-sees) are diseases that spread from animals to humans. They can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites, and people can get infected through direct contact with animals, contaminated food or water, or insect bites.
In many African countries, zoonoses are a serious health problem—especially for children, who are more vulnerable because of their developing immune systems and close contact with animals in their homes or communities.
In ZAFI, we focus on several important but often overlooked zoonotic diseases that affect children across the continent:
- Brucellosis: This disease spreads through unpasteurized milk or contact with infected livestock. It causes fever, joint pain, and long-term weakness.
- Q Fever: People can get infected with this bacterial disease by breathing in dust that has been contaminated with the urine, feces, milk, or birthing fluids of infected animals—especially goats, sheep, and cattle. Q fever can cause high fever, severe headaches, and sometimes pneumonia or liver problems.
- Leptospirosis: This bacterial disease spreads through water contaminated with the urine of infected animals—often rats. It’s especially common in places with poor drainage or frequent flooding, like urban slums.
- Rickettsioses: These are infections spread by ticks and fleas. They can cause fever, rash, and body aches.
- Rift Valley Fever (RVF): This virus is spread by mosquitoes and through contact with infected animal blood. It affects both people and animals and can lead to severe illness, including blindness or even death.
- Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF): This deadly virus spreads through tick bites or contact with infected animal blood. It causes serious bleeding and organ failure if not treated quickly.
Living closely with animals as well as poor sanitation and food hygiene make it easier for these diseases to spread. Many times, they are mistaken for malaria, meaning people don’t get the right treatment.
Our Global Health Research Group is working to change that. Our mission is to improve how these diseases are diagnosed and managed. We support healthcare workers, strengthen labs, and help communities get faster, more accurate diagnosis. With better tools and training, we can reduce the impact of zoonoses.
