Research question and approach
The primary objective was to review 10-year trends (2013–2022) for nationally notifiable zoonotic diseases in Canada and to highlight selected emerging and complex zoonotic disease threats. The review includes a number of vector-borne diseases, and other zoonoses such as hantavirus and rabies. Special topics include the emergence of a widely dispersed highly-pathogenic strain of avian influenza A(H5N1), animal-related aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emergence of a parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis. It also includes a dedicated section on zoonotic risks affecting Northern and Arctic Indigenous communities, authored by Indigenous Services Canada with input from Indigenous partners.
Data were drawn from the Canadian National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (CNDSS), the enhanced vector-borne disease surveillance systems, and applied research and supplementary data sources where formal national surveillance systems are not established. The report was reviewed and validated by federal, provincial and territorial partners.
Primary findings
Overall, the report provides a Canada-wide picture of zoonoses from 2013 to 2022, combining surveillance indicators (case counts, incidence, and descriptive epidemiology) with information on risk factors, animal reservoirs, and environmental conditions that influence transmission. It underscores that vector-borne diseases are a key and growing area of concern, while also reminding readers that several other nationally notifiable zoonoses remain uncommon but can be severe and require ongoing awareness and prevention. The inclusion of special topics on emerging and complex threats highlights that zoonotic risks are continually evolving, shaped by changing environments, pathogens, and patterns of exposure.
The report applies a climate change and One Health lens frame to interpret trends and to emphasize the importance of coordinated, multi-sector surveillance and response across human, animal and environmental health systems.
Secondary findings
Working across sectors supports earlier detection of emerging threats, faster responses across jurisdictions, and prevention strategies that address upstream drivers (e.g., changing vector habitats and wildlife–human interfaces). This is increasingly important as climate change and other pressures shift where and when exposures occur, requiring surveillance and interventions that can adapt over time.
Evidence gaps
The report stresses that, for some zoonoses and emerging issues, formal national surveillance is not in place and analyses must draw on applied research and other data sources; it also cautions that data availability can vary by province/territory over time, and that small case counts can produce unstable rates.
From an environmental health perspective, a recurring challenge is linking zoonotic disease patterns with the environmental conditions that influence exposure. This includes limited integration of climate and environmental indicators into routine analyses, uneven local monitoring of vectors/reservoirs, and incomplete information on key exposure pathways—particularly in Northern, remote, and Arctic settings experiencing rapid change.
Implications for Environmental Public Health (EPH) practice
For EPH practitioners, this report supports risk assessment and communication by linking human illness patterns with environmental and ecological determinants (vectors, wildlife and domestic animal reservoirs, and climate-sensitive drivers). It can inform prioritization of surveillance and monitoring, guide intersectoral planning with animal health and wildlife partners, and strengthen preparedness for shifting geographic ranges and seasonality of vector- and reservoir-associated risks.