Climate influences the spread of a life-threatening zoonotic disease in the Amazon

Study led by Barcelona Institute for Global Health reveals climate's role in polycystic echinococcosis outbreaks, a life-threatening zoonotic disease. Published in PNAS, the research uncovers how regional climate changes impact neglected tropical diseases in the Amazon, with implications for zoonoses. Polycystic echinococcosis (PE) emerges from handling infected animals, like pacas, and becomes fatal if not treated. The study, based on unique databases, links stable temperatures to parasite's animal cycle and extreme climate events to human infections. Insights could aid early warnings for similar zoonoses, emphasizing climate's impact on disease emergence.