Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that are transmitted from one species to another, for instance from animals to humans, and vice-versa. This is a very important term for understanding epidemics and pandemics, including the one we are in now. It is linked to the concept of One Health, in other words the factors that link animal, environmental, and human health. At the core of One Health, is the idea that all life on planet Earth is interconnected, and the well-being of the human species is completely linked to the well-being of the animal kingdom and the environment.

In the month of April, the HJN and the Internews Earth Journalism Network (EJN) joined forces to bring together different speakers to help reporters understand this very concept. It was also an opportunity for EJN to launch their first online course for journalists entitled “From Animals to Humans: How to report on zoonotic diseases and their environmental origins.” If you missed the webinar, you can access it here.