PoliticsAugust 17, 2026

zoonotic

zoh-ON-uh-tik

Definition

Relating to or denoting an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, or which can be transmitted from humans to animals.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'zoon' (animal) and 'nosos' (disease). It entered English in the mid-19th century to describe the transmission of diseases between different species.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the research and the likely origin of COVID-19, highlighting the scientific effort to understand how viruses naturally jump from wildlife to human populations. It is central to defending Fauci against claims that he funded dangerous human-made viral research.

Opinion | Scapegoating Fauci Won't Protect Us From the Next Pandemic

Read the full article ↗

MedPage Today

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