Epizootic diseases

Nature

Epizootic animal diseases affect many animals in a large area at the same time, and spread with great rapidity. Epizootic diseases are generally contagious from one animal to another but may be spread by intermediate agents such as forage, straw, insects, fertilizers, contaminated water, movements of game or wild animals and bird migration, or sea seasonal factors. Insect-borne diseases have a higher propensity to become epizootic, especially when the insects are numerous, such as with flies and trypanosomiasis in Africa.

Incidence

Epizootic diseases, characterized by sudden outbreaks among animal populations, have significant global impact, affecting livestock, wildlife, and, indirectly, human health and economies. Large-scale epizootics can devastate food supplies, disrupt trade, and threaten biodiversity, with outbreaks reported across continents in both developed and developing regions. The increasing movement of animals and changing environmental conditions have contributed to the frequency and scale of these events, making them a persistent concern for veterinary and public health authorities worldwide.
In 2022, an unprecedented outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) swept across Europe and North America, resulting in the culling of over 50 million poultry birds. This event caused severe economic losses, disrupted food supply chains, and raised concerns about zoonotic transmission risks.