Climate influence on zoonoses at human-livestock-wildlife interfaces in the transboundary region between Kenya and Tanzania (ENHANCE)

Project summary

Climate change is arguably the most important global environmental challenge. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected, particularly rural communities that are very reliant on natural resources. Wildlife, humans and livestock, and the environment are closely connected, and this allows for a variety of pathogens to be transmitted from animals to humans. Increase in temperatures and rainfall creates favourable conditions for pathogen survival, multiple and spread, and it negatively affects livestock production. Moreover, increase in droughts reduces freshwater availability and increases the risk of humans and livestock consuming contaminated water. This One Health project aims to better understand these complex dynamics between climate indicators and enhanced survival of emerging and neglected zoonotic pathogens at unique shared human-livestock-wildlife interfaces, and how this affects human and livestock health and livelihoods. Using a multi disciplinary approach: biogeochemical, microbiology, epidemiological, statistical and sociological methods, the project will provide valuable evidence to prevent, prepare, and respond to zoonotic threats and mitigate global warming. Finally, with a lens on conflicts, the project aims to provide deeper understanding of perceptions and attitudes of various stakeholders and insights to the potential impact of current policies.