Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted naturally, directly or indirectly, e.g. via food, 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.

In order to recognise the risks posed by possible (over)carriers of zoonotic pathogens and to combat them in a targeted manner, we continuously collect data on the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens along the entire food chain: from the environment, farm animals and food production through to consumers. Monitoring programmes for zoonotic pathogens are carried out at national level, but are also coordinated across the EU and internationally. With success: some animal diseases that can also be dangerous for humans no longer occur in Austria.