Health risks associated with viral zoonoses: endemic, epidemic and pandemic

Abstract

Viral zoonoses are diseases transmitted to humans by animals when handling biological fluids from the latter, HIV-AIDS, influenza and coronavirus disease are examples of pandemics due to viral zoonoses, among other endemics and epidemics. The objective of this research was to evaluate the health risks associated with viral zoonoses presented in endemic, epidemic and pandemic forms. The methodology included a descriptive systematic bibliographic review study with a documentary design, considering articles published from 2002 to 2022, in scientific databases and SciELO search engines; Redalyc; Science Direct, Google Scholar, and PubMed. the use of the boolean “and” was used. Articles in English and Spanish published in different countries were included, full text, official WHO and PAHO pages, monographs, books, editorials, letters to the editor and symposiums were excluded. The results showed that wild animals are responsible for viral zoonoses in humans, with the most representative being those of the Flaviviridae, Coronaviridae and Arenaviridae family, the main laboratory diagnostic methods are serological and molecular tests, the most characteristic symptoms are fever, headache, cough, nausea, vomiting, among others, it was concluded that wild animals are the main reservoirs of viruses that cause zoonoses, they are transmitted to humans through direct contact with biological fluids and consumption of infected animals, to prevent contagion it is important to wash hands, avoid contact and consumption of infected animals, immunizations and hygiene measures in homes avoiding colonizations of rodents, bats, mosquitoes among others.