Health and Me

Dr. Muhammed Niyas

World Zoonoses Day 2026: Monsoon Season And The Rise Of Zoonotic Diseases

Every year on July 6, we mark World Zoonoses Day. The date marks the day in 1885 when <span>Louis Pasteur</span> gave the first rabies vaccine. It falls right in the middle of our monsoon, which is exactly when <span>zoonotic diseases</span> claim the most lives. So this year, instead of a routine health advisory, let us go through the questions I get asked most often, by patients, by family, and honestly, by fellow doctors too.

A zoonosis is any disease that spreads from animals to humans. The animal could be a rat, a dog, a bat, or even livestock in your backyard. Sometimes the animal itself looks perfectly healthy while carrying the germ that makes us sick. About six out of every ten infectious diseases known to affect humans started in animals at some point. <span>COVID</span> reminded the whole world of this. We have been living with zoonotic threats for years, quietly, every rainy season.

<h2>Q: Which Zoonotic Diseases Does India deal with most commonly?</h2>

If I had to list the usual suspects, it would be this:

<ul><li><span rel="noindex">Leptospirosis</span></li><li><span rel="noindex">Scrub typhus</span></li><li><span rel="noindex">Nipah virus</span>, linked to fruit bats, with Kerala's Kozhikode and Malappuram having seen outbreaks in past years</li><li>Rabies from animal bites, mainly dogs and cats, and occasionally other animals</li></ul>Some of these are with us all year round. Others wait for the rains.

<h2>Q: So Which Of These Actually Rise During The Monsoon, And Why?</h2>

<strong>Leptospirosis </strong>is the one that rises sharply and predictably every single monsoon. The bacteria live in the kidneys of rats and other rodents and are released into soil and water through their urine. When the rains come, our fields, drains, and waterlogged roads become the perfect place for the infection to spread. Anyone walking barefoot through flood water, working in paddy fields, or wading through stagnant water near their home is at risk.

<strong>Scrub typhus</strong> rises a little later, once the rain eases and people go back into overgrown fields and gardens to clear vegetation, exposing themselves to the mite larvae hiding there. Our own data from KIMSHEALTH, based on 241 patients over seven years, shows this pattern clearly. Cases start climbing in September, peak in December, and drop off by January.

This means the disease follows the cool, humid weeks right after the monsoon leaves, not the rainy months themselves. Low temperature and high humidity suit the mites best, which is why the weeks just after the monsoon, not the heavy rain itself, are scrub typhus season. Our data also showed a smaller rise between June and August, so the risk is actually spread across two windows around the monsoon, not just one.

This year, our own health department figures have already shown this pattern. Fever clinics across the state have been seeing well over 10,000 patients a day at the peak, with leptospirosis and Shigella infections climbing sharply. Northern districts of Kerala Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram have reported some of the sharper spikes, and rat fever sadly remains the biggest killer among these in most years.

Nipah is not strictly a monsoon disease. It tends to appear when fruit bats are under stress, often during their breeding season or when their natural food is disrupted. Kerala has had confirmed cases in recent years. The good news is that Kerala now has one of the fastest outbreak response systems in the country for Nipah, with quick contact tracing and isolation.

<h2>Q: What can we do to protect ourselves?</h2>

<ul><li>Avoid walking barefoot through flood water or muddy fields, especially if you have any cuts or wounds on your feet</li><li>Wash your legs and feet well with soap after any contact with flood water or waterlogged areas</li><li>If you must work in fields or clean drains during the monsoon, wear boots and gloves</li><li>Doxycycline tablets taken as prevention work well for people at high risk, such as farmers, sanitation workers, and flood relief volunteers. Please take this only on your doctor's advice, at the right dose and timing</li><li>Keep the rat population around your home and workplace under control. This sounds like a small thing, but it matters more than any tablet</li></ul>

<ul><li>Avoid sitting directly on grass or vegetation when you go out for farm work or a walk in overgrown areas</li><li>Wear long sleeves and full-length trousers when clearing bushes</li></ul>

<ul><li>Any animal bite, however small it looks, needs immediate washing of the wound with soap and running water for at least fifteen minutes, followed by a visit to a doctor for vaccination</li><li>Do not wait to see if the animal "seems fine." Rabies is fatal once symptoms begin, with no exceptions</li><li>Get your own pets vaccinated regularly. This protects your family as much as your animal</li></ul>

<h2>Q: When Should Someone Actually Go See A Doctor?</h2>

See a doctor without delay if you have a fever along with any of the following:

<ul><li>Fever lasting more than two days, especially if you have had recent contact with flood water, muddy fields, or rodents</li><li>Severe muscle pain, especially in the calves, along with fever</li><li>Yellowish color in the eyes or skin</li><li>Passing less urine than usual</li><li>Bleeding from gums, nose, or skin rashes with fever</li><li>Severe body ache</li><li>Breathlessness or confusion along with fever</li><li>Any animal bite, no matter how small it seems</li></ul>

Leptospirosis in particular can look just like an ordinary viral fever in its first two or three days, and then get worse quickly, leading to kidney failure or bleeding problems. Starting antibiotics early makes a big difference to the outcome. This is not a disease where it is safe to simply wait and watch.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

world-zoonoses-day-2026-monsoon-season-and-the-rise-of-zoonotic-diseases

World Zoonoses Day 2026

Leptospirosis

Nipah virus

Monsoon Season

Zoonotic Diseases

COVID

Scrub typhus

Louis Pasteur

legionnaires-disease-outbreak-grips-nyc-after-at-least-14-cases-across-2-neighborhoods-reported

Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Grips NYC After At Least 14 Cases Reported Across 2 Neighborhoods

maharashtra-bans-pak-made-fairness-creams-after-fda-finds-lead-mercury-heres-why-they-should-be-avoided

Maharashtra Bans Pak-Made Fairness Creams After FDA Finds Lead & Mercury; Here's Why They Should Be Avoided

Health & Wellness

8 Sit-Up Variations to Strengthen Your Core and Build Stability

Benefits Of Ayurvedic Health Supplement Ashwagandha

9 Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Options You Should Try

5 Foods You Should Avoid For PCOS, Says Gynecologist

Love Sitting With Your Legs Crossed? Here’s You Should Avoid It

6 Daily Foods That Are Secretly Increasing Your Calories

9 Brain Boosters You Should Do Everyday

Hip Exercises That Will Keep You Flexible As You Age

9 Leg Exercises Office Workers’ Should Do At Home

Benefits of Having Herbal Tea Every Morning

9 Daily Habits That Boost Your Brain Power

Lower-Body Exercises That Are Game-Changers

How Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Helps You

Aging Myths You Should Never Believe

Superfoods That Support Your Gut Health

What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Instant Noodles Every Day?

Health Issues Premature Babies Often Face

Exercises Office Workers Should Do For Their Heart Health

Reasons Why You Should Add Raw Turmeric To Your Diet

Benefits Of Drinking Milk At Night: Why You Should Do It

Food That Provides Vitamin B12 Naturally In Your Diet

Surprising Health Benefits Of Fenugreek Seeds

9 Superfoods You Should Eat For Your Brain Health

What Does Mental Health Support Look Like At Work?

Long Stretches You Should Do To Unwind From Your Day

Colon Cancer In Young Adults: Early Symptoms You Should Know

Health Benefits Of Eating Dry Fruits Everyday

Are You At Risk For Fried Rice Syndrome?

These Tests Reveal How Well You Are Aging

Lower-Back Exercises You Should Do After A Long-Day's Work

Children’s Diet – What Kids Need To Eat For Immunity Building

Common Diabetes Myths That Could Hurt Your Health

Love Spicy Food? Here’s How It Affects Your Health

Superfood List: Veggies And Fruits You Must Have For Immunity

Foods People With IBS Should Avoid

Exercises To Improve Digestion

Easy Work Lunches You Can Make In The Morning

Hunger Vs Craving: Difference Explained In 60 seconds

These Things Can Cause Your Heart To Age Faster

High Carb Foods That Are Actually Healthy

Every year on July 6, we mark World Zoonoses Day. The date marks the day in 1885 when Louis Pasteur gave the first rabies vaccine. It falls right in the middle of our monsoon, which is exactly when zoonotic diseases claim the most lives. So this year, instead of a routine health advisory, let us go through the questions I get asked most often, by patients, by family, and honestly, by fellow doctors too.Q: What Is A Zoonotic Disease?A zoonosis is any disease that spreads from animals to humans. The animal could be a rat, a dog, a bat, or even livestock in your backyard. Sometimes the animal itself looks perfectly healthy while carrying the germ that makes us sick. About six out of every ten infectious diseases known to affect humans started in animals at some point. COVID reminded the whole world of this. We have been living with zoonotic threats for years, quietly, every rainy season.Q: Which Zoonotic Diseases Does India deal with most commonly?If I had to list the usual suspects, it would be this:LeptospirosisScrub typhusNipah virus, linked to fruit bats, with Kerala's Kozhikode and Malappuram having seen outbreaks in past yearsRabies from animal bites, mainly dogs and cats, and occasionally other animalsSome of these are with us all year round. Others wait for the rains.Q: So Which Of These Actually Rise During The Monsoon, And Why?Leptospirosis is the one that rises sharply and predictably every single monsoon. The bacteria live in the kidneys of rats and other rodents and are released into soil and water through their urine. When the rains come, our fields, drains, and waterlogged roads become the perfect place for the infection to spread. Anyone walking barefoot through flood water, working in paddy fields, or wading through stagnant water near their home is at risk.Scrub typhus rises a little later, once the rain eases and people go back into overgrown fields and gardens to clear vegetation, exposing themselves to the mite larvae hiding there. Our own data from KIMSHEALTH, based on 241 patients over seven years, shows this pattern clearly. Cases start climbing in September, peak in December, and drop off by January.This means the disease follows the cool, humid weeks right after the monsoon leaves, not the rainy months themselves. Low temperature and high humidity suit the mites best, which is why the weeks just after the monsoon, not the heavy rain itself, are scrub typhus season. Our data also showed a smaller rise between June and August, so the risk is actually spread across two windows around the monsoon, not just one.This year, our own health department figures have already shown this pattern. Fever clinics across the state have been seeing well over 10,000 patients a day at the peak, with leptospirosis and Shigella infections climbing sharply. Northern districts of Kerala Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram have reported some of the sharper spikes, and rat fever sadly remains the biggest killer among these in most years.Q: What about Nipah?Nipah is not strictly a monsoon disease. It tends to appear when fruit bats are under stress, often during their breeding season or when their natural food is disrupted. Kerala has had confirmed cases in recent years. The good news is that Kerala now has one of the fastest outbreak response systems in the country for Nipah, with quick contact tracing and isolation.Q: What can we do to protect ourselves?For leptospirosis:Avoid walking barefoot through flood water or muddy fields, especially if you have any cuts or wounds on your feetWash your legs and feet well with soap after any contact with flood water or waterlogged areasIf you must work in fields or clean drains during the monsoon, wear boots and glovesDoxycycline tablets taken as prevention work well for people at high risk, such as farmers, sanitation workers, and flood relief volunteers. Please take this only on your doctor's advice, at the right dose and timingKeep the rat population around your home and workplace under control. This sounds like a small thing, but it matters more than any tabletFor scrub typhus:Avoid sitting directly on grass or vegetation when you go out for farm work or a walk in overgrown areasWear long sleeves and full-length trousers when clearing bushesFor rabies:Any animal bite, however small it looks, needs immediate washing of the wound with soap and running water for at least fifteen minutes, followed by a visit to a doctor for vaccinationDo not wait to see if the animal "seems fine." Rabies is fatal once symptoms begin, with no exceptionsGet your own pets vaccinated regularly. This protects your family as much as your animalQ: When Should Someone Actually Go See A Doctor?See a doctor without delay if you have a fever along with any of the following:Fever lasting more than two days, especially if you have had recent contact with flood water, muddy fields, or rodentsSevere muscle pain, especially in the calves, along with feverYellowish color in the eyes or skinPassing less urine than usualBleeding from gums, nose, or skin rashes with feverSevere body acheBreathlessness or confusion along with feverAny animal bite, no matter how small it seemsLeptospirosis in particular can look just like an ordinary viral fever in its first two or three days, and then get worse quickly, leading to kidney failure or bleeding problems. Starting antibiotics early makes a big difference to the outcome. This is not a disease where it is safe to simply wait and watch.

world zoonoses day 2026: monsoon season and the rise of zoonotic diseases

About Us

Contact Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Company

Health and Me is a premium website with content written and curated to function as a handbook for all Health concerns.

World Zoonoses Day 2026: Monsoon Season And The Rise Of Zoonotic Diseases

The "Weekend Warrior" Trap: Why A Sunday Soccer Match May Be Starving The Heart Of Oxygen

Chronic Fatigue: More Than Just Lack of Rest

The High Cost of Ignoring Fungi: The Hidden Burden of Invasive Fungal Infections

Health Conditions A-Z

World Zoonoses Day 2026: Monsoon Season And The Rise Of Zoonotic Diseases

Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Grips NYC After At Least 14 Cases Reported Across 2 Neighborhoods

Maharashtra Bans Pak-Made Fairness Creams After FDA Finds Lead & Mercury; Here's Why They Should Be Avoided