Published Paper Details:

shifts to the environment caused by humans, especially habitat fragmentation and changes in land use in India's biodiversity hotspots, are making it easier for infectious diseases to spread in wildlife. This study, assessed through a 2013 perspective, examines how the "thinning" of the human-wildlife interface promotes zoonotic spillover. We show how important the "dilution effect" is and how biodiversity loss affects host-pathogen dynamics by looking at important cases like Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) and the Nipah virus. By combining GIS spatial analysis with molecular diagnostics, the research shows that these diseases are a double threat to both conservation and public health. Our results indicate that the expansion of "weedy" generalist reservoirs and altered vector ranges are significant factors contributing to pathogen emergence. In conclusion, the study supports a "One Health" framework that acknowledges intact ecosystems as vital defenses against emerging infectious agents, highlighting that wildlife health is an integral aspect of India's national biosecurity and ecological integrity.