Biosecurity in zoos: A One Health perspective

The word “biosecurity” is defined as those precautions taken to minimize the risk of introducing an infectious disease into an animal population. We use the term to refer to all programs of infection control within a zoo facility. Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly originating from wildlife, due in part to increasing urbanisation, globalised trade, habitat loss and other environmental changes. This is a real trend that cannot be fully explained by an increase in detection through improved surveillance, recognition, diagnosis or reporting. Many of these diseases have significant impacts on human health, domestic animal health, wildlife health and biodiversity.