Zoonoses explains how a specific barrier, pathogen interaction, immune mechanism, treatment response or population process contributes to protection against infectious disease.
Coverage 2025–2025 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
A zoonosis is an infectious disease that can transfer from another animal species to humans, through several different transmission routes.
| Zoonosis | Animal link and route to humans |
|---|---|
| Tuberculosis | Some strains can pass from infected cattle or other animals through close exposure or contaminated animal products |
| Rabies | Virus in saliva is commonly transferred by the bite of an infected mammal |
| Japanese encephalitis | Mosquito vectors transfer virus maintained among animal hosts such as pigs and birds |
| COVID-19 | A recently emerged infection that transferred from another species, followed by extensive human-to-human respiratory transmission |
Zoonoses are prevalent among human infectious diseases because humans interact with livestock, wildlife, food systems and vectors. Ecology and behaviour change the opportunities for cross-species exposure.
Animal origin does not guarantee efficient human-to-human spread. Identify the reservoir or animal link, the transfer route and whether onward human transmission occurs.
This objective is assessed through structured response, commonly using State / Identify / Explain.
State / Identify / Explain
Mark schemes repeatedly reward named details, correct sequence and clear distinctions between similar processes.
Defining zoonoses as diseases from zoos rather than transfer from other animal species.
Representative question
State the term used for an infectious disease that can transfer from other species to humans.
