How the gender dimension of one health helps combat outbreaks of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases: Case studies
Abstract
When outbreaks of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases are discussed, little attention is paid to differential gender impacts, or to gender involvement and roles in different settings during the outbreak. Gender roles shape how individuals' interactions with animals, wildlife, other people and the environment, which influences exposure to zoonotic pathogens. For example, in some rural communities, men may face risks of exposure to emerging pathogens during hunting whilst women who primarily take care of domestic animals may face prolonged exposure to other zoonotic diseases. In some settings, women (and men) lack access to health protection, education or communication with health officials (medical doctors or veterinarians). In some cultures, women are not allowed to speak directly with male service providers, further limiting their access to critical information and services. One Health is a holistic, inclusive approach which should be incorporating a gender lens when considering zoonoses. This includes thinking about the need to create appropriate gender sensitive policies that address disparities in surveillance, response, prevention, detection, and control of the disease (or health issue) being addressed. In this paper, we highlight these issues through several case studies that demonstrate the importance of including gender in zoonotic disease response and, ideally, when implementing prevention measures.
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BibTeX
@article{savic2026gender,
title = {{How the gender dimension of one health helps combat outbreaks of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases: Case studies}},
author = {Sara Savic and Brigitte Bagnol and Fiona Tomley and Naheeda Hamza and Lina Gazu and Marjan Leneman and Robyn Alders and Norma Rocio Forero-Muñoz and Valeria Yustyniuk and Fatou Ndoye and Verónica Ormea and Amelia Ramadhani Anshar and Angela Adhiambo Opondoh and Charity Wiafe Akenten and Elicana Nduhuura and Patricia Nabisubi and Krupali Patel and Séverine Thys and Evan F. Griffith and Sumana Goli and R.S. Sivaramyapragathi and Marianne Rouseau and Gabrielle Laing and Julie N. Garnier},
journal = {Health Security},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1177/23265094261434696},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05793474v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - How the gender dimension of one health helps combat outbreaks of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases: Case studies
AU - Sara Savic
AU - Brigitte Bagnol
AU - Fiona Tomley
AU - Naheeda Hamza
AU - Lina Gazu
AU - Marjan Leneman
AU - Robyn Alders
AU - Norma Rocio Forero-Muñoz
AU - Valeria Yustyniuk
AU - Fatou Ndoye
AU - Verónica Ormea
AU - Amelia Ramadhani Anshar
AU - Angela Adhiambo Opondoh
AU - Charity Wiafe Akenten
AU - Elicana Nduhuura
AU - Patricia Nabisubi
AU - Krupali Patel
AU - Séverine Thys
AU - Evan F. Griffith
AU - Sumana Goli
AU - R.S. Sivaramyapragathi
AU - Marianne Rouseau
AU - Gabrielle Laing
AU - Julie N. Garnier
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Health Security
DO - 10.1177/23265094261434696
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05793474v1
AB - When outbreaks of emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases are discussed, little attention is paid to differential gender impacts, or to gender involvement and roles in different settings during the outbreak. Gender roles shape how individuals' interactions with animals, wildlife, other people and the environment, which influences exposure to zoonotic pathogens. For example, in some rural communities, men may face risks of exposure to emerging pathogens during hunting whilst women who primarily take care of domestic animals may face prolonged exposure to other zoonotic diseases. In some settings, women (and men) lack access to health protection, education or communication with health officials (medical doctors or veterinarians). In some cultures, women are not allowed to speak directly with male service providers, further limiting their access to critical information and services. One Health is a holistic, inclusive approach which should be incorporating a gender lens when considering zoonoses. This includes thinking about the need to create appropriate gender sensitive policies that address disparities in surveillance, response, prevention, detection, and control of the disease (or health issue) being addressed. In this paper, we highlight these issues through several case studies that demonstrate the importance of including gender in zoonotic disease response and, ideally, when implementing prevention measures.
SN - 2326-5094
SN - 2326-5108
ER -