Integrating one health, behavioural dynamics, and surveillance to control emerging infectious disease threats

ABSTRACT

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) continue to pose serious global health threats due to rapid urbanisation, environmental disruption, and increased human-animal contact. This study investigates the transmission dynamics and key risk factors influencing the spread of EIDs, and evaluates the effectiveness of public health interventions during major outbreaks. Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted across 85 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2024, integrating epidemiological, environmental, and behavioural datasets using a mixed-method analytic approach. Results revealed that real-time surveillance systems reduced outbreak transmission rates by 32.6%, while integrated community-based interventions improved recovery outcomes by 21.4% across multiple regions. Significant predictors of disease spread included urban density, cross-border mobility, and delayed policy response (p < 0.05). The model showed a 2.7% margin of error in estimating intervention effectiveness, suggesting moderate predictive reliability. These findings emphasise the need for data-driven surveillance frameworks and international collaboration to strengthen future outbreak preparedness and response strategies.

Keywords: Emerging Infectious Diseases; Transmission Dynamics; Environmental Drivers; Public Health Interventions; One Health Approach; Outbreak Control.