What best describes vector-borne disease ecology in a One Health context?

• A. Study of diseases transmitted by vectors and how climate affects vector biology and transmission; example: dengue expansion.
• B. Transmission of diseases by airborne particles in urban settings.
• C. Economic impact assessment of vaccination programs.
• D. Waterborne contamination as the sole driver of disease outbreaks.

Answer: (A)

Vector-borne disease ecology in a One Health context looks at how diseases are transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks and how environmental and climatic conditions shape vector populations, pathogen development within the vector, and the resulting risk to humans and animals. Temperature, rainfall, and seasonality influence how quickly vectors develop, how often they bite, and how long the pathogen can become infectious inside the vector (the extrinsic incubation period). Landscape changes, urbanization, and interactions among wildlife, domestic animals, and people all affect who gets exposed and when. The dengue expansion example illustrates this interplay: warmer temperatures and suitable breeding habitats in urban areas boost Aedes mosquito abundance and transmission potential, raising human risk and potential spillover to other hosts. A One Health approach brings together human health, animal health, and environmental perspectives to monitor vectors, model risk, and implement integrated control strategies across sectors. Other options don’t capture this ecological and cross-sector dynamic: airborne transmission centers on respiratory spread, not vectors; economic impact or vaccination program costs focus on policy or economics rather than vector–pathogen–environment interactions; waterborne contamination emphasizes water quality rather than vector ecology.