The One Health Epidemiology of Zoonotic Diseases in Bangladesh and its Upshot on Public Health: A Comprehensive Review

Zoonotic illnesses represent a major global public health concern because they can spread from animals to people. The significance of zoonotic diseases cannot be emphasized in Bangladesh, a nation with a dense population and a variety of ecosystems. The main causes of the prevalence of zoonoses in Bangladesh are emphasized in this review, along with the pressing need for all-encompassing measures to lessen their effects. The agricultural terrain of Bangladesh, which is marked by widespread livestock production and intimate human-animal contact, is conducive to the spread of zoonotic diseases. A number of diseases have shown the potential for catastrophic outbreaks, with far-reaching effects on public health and the economy, including dengue, rabies, avian influenza (H5N1), TB, brucellosis, and leptospirosis. Further exacerbating the probability of zoonotic spillover occurrences are growing urbanization and environmental deterioration. The prevalence of zoonotic illnesses is increased by Bangladesh's socioeconomic circumstances, which include deprivation, a lackluster healthcare system, and restricted access to hygienic settings and clean water. The majority of these diseases affect vulnerable groups, including peri-urban residents, livestock farmers, and agricultural laborers. These groups have limited access to healthcare resources and are more likely to become infected. Moreover, the interdependence of international trade and travel promotes the transnational transmission of zoonotic infections, underscoring the necessity of international collaboration in disease surveillance, preventive, and control initiatives. In order to effectively combat the issue of zoonotic infections in Bangladesh, a variety of strategies including proactive surveillance, early identification, quick reaction mechanisms, and community involvement are needed. Effective zoonosis management methods must include bolstering veterinary and public health systems, encouraging interdisciplinary research collaborations, and funding education and awareness initiatives. Bangladesh has a significant zoonotic disease burden, which has a significant impact on food security, public health, and socioeconomic development. Bangladesh can protect the health and welfare of its people and support international efforts to stop the establishment and spread of infectious illnesses by acknowledging the significance of zoonoses and giving them top priority in coordinated efforts to treat them. This review article offers a thorough summary of zoonotic illnesses that have been documented in Bangladesh that are significant for public health. To address the public health threats of animal origin and to prevent and control zoonoses, this review article also explores and informs established procedures to implement joint outbreak investigation, enable information sharing across organizations, implement a multi-sectoral one-health approach, and raise mass awareness. The necessity for ongoing awareness stems from the fact that zoonotic illnesses have become more common in Bangladesh over the past 20 years and are now a major source of infectious disease in humans. Knowing the causes of spillover and transmission will enable to advise one, on how to prevent the spread of disease when interacting with domesticated animals and nature.