Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease Program

The department's Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease Program works with partners using a One Health perspective to prevent and control zoonotic and vector-borne disease.

Zoonotic and vector-borne diseases are caused by pathogens that spread from animals and arthropods (such as mosquitos and ticks) to people. Lowering the risk to our health depends on:

Understanding environmental conditions and how they impact animals, arthropods and the pathogens they carry
Understanding the distribution of vector and wildlife populations
Understanding where these pathogens exist in our state

Climate changes affect each of these factors, so ongoing disease monitoring is necessary.

What we do

The Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease program works to lower disease risk and respond to public health events involving zoonotic, vector-borne, or environmental pathogens. We partner with federal, tribal, state, and local health departments. Our program:

Monitors amounts of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in Washington
Reports location and amounts of zoonotic and vector-borne disease
Emphasizes the connections of human, animal, and environmental health, and uses data to improve One Health
Prevents disease through public health efforts and education
Collaborates with One Health colleagues to improve the health of people, animals, and our shared environments
Prepares for and responds to outbreaks and public health emergencies

Resources

Animal Transmitted Diseases - Zoonotic disease topics like rabies, hantavirus, West Nile virus, and tick-borne diseases.
Notifiable condition reporting forms and guidelines
One Health - Promotes multi-sectoral and cross-disciplinary collaboration to solve health challenges.
Pests - Controlling pests such as rodents, bed bugs, mosquitoes, and ticks.
Veterinarian Resources - Resources to help veterinarians to control zoonotic diseases.
Washington Tracking Network - Zoonotic Disease - Data showing the amount of zoonotic disease, such as West Nile virus in our state.
Zoonotic Disease Data and Reports - West Nile virus, plague, and reports.
Zoonotic Disease Rules and Guidelines - Rabies vaccination requirement for pets, animal vendor and venue operator requirements, and other rules and guidelines.