Origins of pandemics: Why ecological disruption is central to global health security and the imperative for proactive prevention.
- 1Rural Health Research Institute (RHRI), Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
- 2Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service (CAHS), Coonamble, NSW 2829, Australia.
- 3Regional Enterprise Development Institute (REDI.E), Dubbo, NSW 2830, Australia.
Abstract
Pandemics are increasingly recognised as complex ecological and socio-economic phenomena rather than isolated biological events. The emergence of infectious diseases reflects dynamic interactions among humans, animals, and environmental systems, shaped by factors including biodiversity loss, land-use change, climate variability, urbanisation, and intensified human-wildlife contact. This viewpoint examines the evolving understanding of pandemic origins, highlighting the central role of ecological disruption and zoonotic spillover in shaping global health risks. The article further discusses the growing importance of One Health and planetary health frameworks in addressing pandemic prevention through integrated surveillance, cross-sectoral governance, ecosystem protection, and international collaboration. It also highlights the critical contribution of Indigenous ecological knowledge, which emphasises reciprocal relationships between humans and nature and provides valuable insights for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and disease prevention. Strengthening global preparedness requires moving beyond reactive outbreak responses towards proactive strategies that address the ecological and societal drivers of pathogen emergence. Understanding pandemic origins is therefore not only a scientific priority but also a global governance imperative for protecting planetary and human health.
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BibTeX
@article{mahmood2026origins,
title = {{Origins of pandemics: Why ecological disruption is central to global health security and the imperative for proactive prevention.}},
author = {Shakeel Mahmood and Philip Naden and Subash Thapa and Peter Gibbs},
journal = {One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101598},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908889},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Origins of pandemics: Why ecological disruption is central to global health security and the imperative for proactive prevention.
AU - Shakeel Mahmood
AU - Philip Naden
AU - Subash Thapa
AU - Peter Gibbs
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
DO - 10.1016/j.onehlt.2026.101598
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908889
AB - Pandemics are increasingly recognised as complex ecological and socio-economic phenomena rather than isolated biological events. The emergence of infectious diseases reflects dynamic interactions among humans, animals, and environmental systems, shaped by factors including biodiversity loss, land-use change, climate variability, urbanisation, and intensified human-wildlife contact. This viewpoint examines the evolving understanding of pandemic origins, highlighting the central role of ecological disruption and zoonotic spillover in shaping global health risks. The article further discusses the growing importance of One Health and planetary health frameworks in addressing pandemic prevention through integrated surveillance, cross-sectoral governance, ecosystem protection, and international collaboration. It also highlights the critical contribution of Indigenous ecological knowledge, which emphasises reciprocal relationships between humans and nature and provides valuable insights for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and disease prevention. Strengthening global preparedness requires moving beyond reactive outbreak responses towards proactive strategies that address the ecological and societal drivers of pathogen emergence. Understanding pandemic origins is therefore not only a scientific priority but also a global governance imperative for protecting planetary and human health.
SN - 2352-7714
ER -