ENCB Hosts Conference on Zoonotic Diseases and the "One Health" Approach

By Claudia Villalobos | Photography: Israel Vera — September 14, 2026

IPN researcher Jesús Miguel Torres Flores emphasizes that preventive surveillance and early detection of viral pathogens are critical to preventing future health emergencies.

Zoonotic diseases—pathogens transmitted from animals to humans—emerge from complex interactions among people, animals, and ecosystems. Understanding this interrelation underpins the "One Health" framework, which aims to prevent global health crises through early detection and continuous pathogen surveillance, noted Jesús Miguel Torres Flores, a researcher at the School of Biological Sciences (Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, ENCB) of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN).

Speaking at the conference "Zoonoses and One Health," organized by the IPN General Coordination for Planning and Institutional Information (CGPII), Dr. Torres Flores stressed that disease prevention must begin long before an outbreak occurs. Identifying circulating viruses, mapping their reservoirs, and monitoring vector populations are vital steps in anticipating public health risks.

"Preventive surveillance plays a strategic role," stated Torres Flores, who serves as Safety Officer at the National Vaccinology and Tropical Viruses Laboratory (Laboratorio Nacional de Vaccinología y Virus Tropicales, LNVyVT). Modern molecular detection and genomic sequencing enable researchers to identify pathogens in field samples before they trigger public health emergencies.

Environmental Drivers and Multidisciplinary Action

Dr. Torres Flores highlighted that ecosystem disruption, deforestation, and expanding human activity significantly increase vector-to-human transmission risks. Monitoring areas experiencing rapid environmental change allows public health authorities to catch potential spillover events early.

Addressing these threats requires interdisciplinary collaboration across scientific fields:

Virologists & Epidemiologists: Track viral mutations, transmission pathways, and spillover potential.

Veterinarians & Wildlife Biologists: Monitor animal reservoir health, livestock populations, and captive primates.

Vector Control Specialists & Environmental Scientists: Assess mosquito and tick populations while tracking ecosystem shifts.

Public Health Officials: Coordinate early response mechanisms and preventive health policies.

"Multidisciplinary teams are indispensable to minimizing the impact of zoonotic diseases," Torres Flores noted, adding that public health responses cannot wait until an outbreak is underway.

Historical Precedents and Ongoing Research

Reflecting on past outbreaks—including Influenza, SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and Zika—Torres Flores, who also serves as Vice President of the Mexican Society of Virology (Sociedad Mexicana de Virología, SMV), pointed out that zoonotic spillover events are recurring phenomena.

Influenza demonstrates rapid viral evolution, while respiratory coronaviruses illustrate the dangers of ignoring early warning signals in viral surveillance. Similarly, the rapid spread of the Zika virus via mosquito vectors underscored how a mild infection can cause severe developmental consequences when vector monitoring is insufficient.

At the LNVyVT, researchers conduct active surveillance by sequencing viral samples from wild vectors (ticks and mosquitoes) and non-human primates. These efforts aim to isolate new adenoviruses and develop next-generation vaccine vectors before novel pathogens can cause widespread epidemics.

At the conclusion of the lecture, Yesica Aznar Molina, Institutional Quality Coordinator at CGPII, presented Dr. Torres Flores with an official recognition for his contributions to scientific dissemination and public health awareness.