Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted directly or indirectly 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 also cause disease in animals. Many pathogens, such as West Nile virus or TBE, are transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks: these are known as vectors. These vector-borne diseases are particularly important because they include diseases such as dengue fever or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, which are not yet present in our country but are becoming increasingly common as a result of global warming - their possible vectors, such as the Asian tiger mosquito or the tropical tick Hyalomma, are already present.

For this reason, we monitor the occurrence and spread of such vectors to detect "new" pathogens as quickly as possible. We also participate in international research projects, e.g. a mobile high-security laboratory that can be used to examine samples from humans, animals and the environment on site, even in remote areas.