Outbreaks caused by animal-to-human infection in Africa have spiked by 63% in the last decade, much of the rise occurring between 2019 and 2022. This is according to a new analysis report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which compares the last decade between 2012 and 2022 with the previous decade between 2001 and 2011.

Of the 1843 public health events that were recorded during 2001-2022, 30% were attributed to zoonotic disease outbreaks. Around 70% of the zoonotic outbreaks were caused by Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers and the remaining 30% were caused by monkeypox, dengue fever, anthrax and a range of other diseases. 

In Africa specifically, zoonotic disease outbreaks have been occurring but they were contained. 

“Infections originating in animals and then jumping to humans have been happening for centuries, but the risk of mass infections and deaths had been relatively limited in Africa. Poor transport infrastructure acted as a natural barrier”, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. 

As the world’s fastest growing population, there is a higher demand for animal-based foods and products around Africa such as meat, poultry, eggs, and milk. The increased and improved access to travel on the continent is a major consideration for the rising transmission route of zoonotic disease outbreaks spreading from remote areas where there are few inhabitants to large urban areas. 

WHO officials say more research is needed to understand the transmission patterns. Furthermore, WHO are encouraging people working across human, animal and environmental health to identify how factors like nutrition, immune status, genetic and antimicrobial resistance affect zoonotic disease outbreaks in order to reduce the chance of future pandemics occurring.