Fasciolosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease associated with livestock and contaminated aquatic plants, highlights the importance of veterinary-public health collaboration. Human fascioliasis remains largely underdiagnosed in South Africa due to the absence of routine laboratory surveillance. Snakebite envenoming and leprosy continue to affect isolated communities, with morbidity and stigma presenting additional challenges. Vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria, continue to pose both endemic and emerging threats, with cross-border movement influencing transmission patterns. Arboviruses such as the West Nile virus, Sindbis virus, Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, tick bite fever and Q-fever are of increasing concern, with several exotic viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika posing potential risks due to competent vectors and changing environmental conditions. Surveillance of vectors, human infections and animal hosts is critical for early detection and response. Multiple structural and environmental drivers – including climate change, rapid urbanisation, population mobility, globalisation and land-use changes – are expanding vector habitats and transmission seasons, increasing the risk and geographic spread of both NTDs and VBDs. Despite progress through interventions such as indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated nets, mass drug administration and improved diagnostics, challenges remain; these include insecticide and drug resistance, under-reporting, limited entomological and laboratory capacity, and insufficient sustainable financing. Opportunities to strengthen control include integrated vector management; enhanced One Health collaboration across human, animal and environmental health sectors; risk forecasting; earlywarning systems; livestock vaccination; regional coordination; and improved community engagement. Investments in research, diagnostics, vaccines and new tools, coupled with better water and sanitation infrastructure, will be essential to achieving elimination goals. 10
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