Margaret Kahl

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gilchrist, Sandra

Area of Concentration

Biology, Chinese Language and Culture

Abstract

The Earth thrives under One-Health, a balance between humans, other animals, and environmental health. Zoonotic diseases can impact this equilibrium. In this retrospective review, I explore the impact of human population growth on zoonotic disease transmission, focusing on rabies, Lyme disease, and Hansen’s disease incidences in Florida from 2000-2022. While existing literature acknowledges various drivers that influence zoonotic disease transmission rates, limited attention has been directed toward the specific correlation with human population growth. Correlation and regression analyses were applied utilizing surveillance data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health, alongside demographic data from the United States Census Bureau. Visual representations including scatterplots, maps, and pie graphs were created to examine trends. Findings revealed a decline in rabies cases but increases in Lyme disease and Hansen’s disease, particularly prevalent in urban counties. Migration from the New England region exhibited no correlation with Lyme disease rates. Overall, the data suggest that while population growth alone does not have a strong correlation to increased zoonotic disease risk, further research into the interconnectedness among zoonotic diseases is vital for comprehensive understanding.

Download

Share

COinS