A Call for Peace and Scientific Solidarity

As parasitologists specialized in human and animal parasitic diseases, we express our grave concern regarding the deterioration of the global geopolitical climate. Science has never been an isolated endeavor; it is a bridge built on the free exchange of ideas, regardless of origins, religions, or nationalities. Our field, a diverse mosaic of biologists, ecologists, pharmacists, veterinarians, and physicians, is intrinsically transdisciplinary and can only flourish when the international community is united in the quest for knowledge. Today, this unity is shattered by the clamor of numerous conflicts and wars.

The Erosion of the “One Health” Paradigm

The health of humans, animals, and our shared environment is inextricably linked. Ongoing global conflicts, particularly between Russia and Ukraine, between the United States and Iran, and the devastating violence in Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, do more than inflict immediate human tragedy; they dismantle the infrastructure necessary for managing global health

• Resurgence of Diseases: War is a catalyst for biological instability. The destruction of health infrastructure, lack of resources, rising insecurity, ecosystem disruptions, and population displacements lead to a catastrophic collapse of epidemiological surveillance. We know all too well that parasites do not respect man-made borders; a surge in zoonotic parasitosis or vector-borne diseases due to conflict in one region represents a direct threat to global biosecurity

• Environmental Degradation and Ecotoxicity: Modern warfare causes genuine ecological disasters. Pollution induced by missiles, drones, fighter jets, and mass destruction introduces heavy metals and chemical contaminants into the soil and water. This “scorched earth” reality destroys biodiversity and alters the habitats of hosts and vectors, creating unpredictable changes in disease dynamics that could haunt these ecosystems for generations.

• The Attrition of Intellectual Capital: Beyond physical destruction lies the “silent loss” of human expertise and the general demoralization of scientists living in conflict zones. When laboratories are destroyed and scientists are forced to flee, or are injured or killed in conflicts, decades of specialized research and institutional memory evaporate. This “brain drain” handicaps our collective ability to respond to future pandemics and health crises.

A Shared Essence and Global Responsibility

Witnessing these fractures in our global society, we are reminded of the profound words of the 13th-century Persian poet Saadi in The Gulistan: ” Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members will remain uneasy.” This timeless and universal wisdom is the poetic mirror image of the One Health paradigm. As parasitologists, we understand that a disruption in one domain, be it social, biological, or environmental, inevitably destabilizes the others. We cannot advocate for “Health” while remaining silent in the face of the “Hostility” that destroys its very foundations.

A Plea for Diplomacy

The path forward cannot be paved with weapons and bombs, but with diplomacy, dialogue, and the restoration of scientific exchange. We call upon the global community, international governing bodies, and our scientific colleagues to prioritize peace over destruction. Let us return to a world where our only enemy is the one we fight together: disease, climate change, ecosystem degradation, poverty, and ignorance.

Jean Dupouy-Camet (MD, PhD), Mohamed Gharbi (DVM, PhD), Pascal Boireau (DVM, PhD),Patrick Giraudoux (PhD) and Thomas Romig (PhD)

April 2, 2026