Deputy Minister: Climate changes affect diseases in humans, animals, plants

Approximately half of all infectious diseases in humans originate from animals, the Azerbaijani Deputy Health Minister Nadir Zeynalov said, Report informs.

Speaking at a symposium titled "One Health Uncovered: Preparing for COP29 with Intersectoral Insights," Zeynalov highlighted that some infections can be transmitted between animals and humans, potentially leading to complications. These diseases include rabies, bird flu, swine flu, COVID-19, and Ebola.

“Approximately half of human infectious diseases stem from animal-borne infections. Regarding transmission, a unified approach should be applied to both the disease and the carriers. While antibiotics are commonly used in humans to combat infections, their use in animals may be even more prevalent,” the deputy minister stated.

Zeynalov emphasized that climate change affects not only human health but also diseases in animals and plants:

"As a result, it causes elusive changes. Climate change prompts both humans and animals to migrate, leading to shifts in the geographical distribution of many infectious diseases. New diseases emerge, while existing ones lead to complications. Thus, adopting a holistic health perspective is crucial.”