Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted directly or indirectly between animals and humans. More than half of all pathogens that cause disease in humans can be transmitted between humans and animals and many of them can also cause disease in animals. Many pathogens, such as West Nile virus or TBE, are transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks: these are known as vectors. These vector-borne diseases are particularly important because they include diseases such as dengue fever or Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, which are not yet present in our country but are getting closer as a result of global warming - their potential vectors such as the Asian tiger mosquito or the tropical tick Hyalomma are already here.

For this reason, we are monitoring the emergence and spread of such vectors in order to detect "new" pathogens as quickly as possible. We are also involved in international research projects, e.g. a mobile high-security laboratory that can be used to analyse samples from humans, animals and the environment on site, even in remote areas.

The AGES radar for infectious diseases also provides up-to-date information on outbreaks and infectious diseases.