ZOONOSES IN THE MAZOWIECKIE PROVINCEIN COMPARISON WITH OTHER PROVINCES IN POLAND

<ns3:p>According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, human life has several needs in which animals play a keyrole, such as physiological needs, safety and belongingness. Animals provide humans with food,livelihood as well as companionship. Animal-human interaction carries the risk of transmittingzoonotic diseases known as zoonoses, which are caused by pathogens, i.e. bacteria, fungi, parasites,viruses, etc., that can endanger the community.Zoonoses are of a global significance with respect to environmental change, health, mobility andinternational trade that leads to their rapid spread. Newly emerging infectious diseases in humanscome from animals, which shows the need to increase monitoring, develop diagnoses and strategiesin preventing them and their spread.The article is devoted to an analysis of the incidence of zoonoses in humans in the MazowieckieProvince in comparison with other provinces in Poland. The first part of the manuscript focuses onthe epidemiology of selected zoonoses, presents the definition and classification of zoonoses, andemphasises their importance in shaping public health. Legal, infrastructural aspects are alsodescribed, and reference is made to areas of research in the field of cooperation in the control ofzoonoses. The second part of the article presents a correlation analysis using Pearson’s coefficient, forwhich statistical data were used. Due to the limited amount of available data, the analysis was madefor 2020 and 2021. The final part of the article includes guidelines for zoonotic disease controlprevention activities.The purpose of this article is to increase public awareness of zoonoses and the resulting risks, and toanalyze the factors that influence their development. The study attempts to determine which factorsand to what extent influence the development of zoonoses, and also whether hospital infrastructureis adequately prepared to combat zoonoses.</ns3:p>