Good that You Love Animals! But, Be Cautious of Zoonoses

Infection Can Spread Through Direct or Indirect Contact

Zoonoses is a disease or an infection that is transferred from an animal to a human either through direct contact or through food, water and the environment. Humans and animals coexist with each other. The coalesce between human, animals and the environments we live are sources of diseases impacting public health and the social and economic well-being of the world.

Animals are advantageous to us in multiple ways. We keep them as pets to give us comfort and happiness, use them at the circus to perform tricks, watch them at proximity in a zoo or country fair or encounter wildlife when engaged in outdoor activities. Most importantly, animals provide us with meat, dairy and eggs.

Zoonotic diseases are common worldwide, and scientists believe that more than 6 out of 10 known infectious diseases in people are spread from animals while 3 of 4 emerging infectious diseases are again spread from animals. Zoonoses may be bacterial, viral, parasitic or can even include some unconventional agents.

Animal−Human Interaction
Animals and individuals closely connect with each other and hence, there are various ways in which infections can spread. They include:

• Direct Contact: This is common when people grow pets. Such individuals are at a greater risk of coming in contact with the saliva, blood, urine, mucous, feces or other fluids of an infected animal. Touching, bites or scratches from animals are other possible ways of acquiring an infection.
• Indirect Contact: Being in contact with the places where animals live and roam, surfaces or objects that are already infected with germs are indirect contact methods. Aquarium water tanks, chicken coops, plants, soil, pet foods and water dishes are typical examples.
• Vector-borne: Biting of a tick, mosquito or a flea can cause diseases like malaria and dengue.
• Foodborne: Foodborne diseases are very common and can be passed to humans when we eat or drink unpasteurized milk, undercooked meat, eggs, raw fruits or vegetables that are contaminated with the feces from an infected animal.
  
  

Anyone can acquire a zoonotic disease, but some people are at a greater risk of becoming sick or even dying from certain infections. Such people include:

• Children below five years
• Adults above 65 years
• People with weakened immune system
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Safeguard Yourself from the Disease
Because you don’t have a pet or don’t go to the zoo doesn’t mean that you are safe. Schools, stores, parks, fairs and even our homes (mosquitoes, ticks and fleas bite people every single day) are common places where chances of coming in contact with animals are higher. But, there are simple ways to keep yourself and your family protected from the attack of zoonotic diseases. They include:

1. Wash your hands if you have been around animals, even if you have never touched one of those. It helps you to stay away from germs and prevents sickness. Washing hands includes a series of steps that ensure clean and safe hands. Learn about hand washing techniques from the website www.firsteatright.com.
2. If you have a pet, know what to do and what not to do to stay safe with them.
3. Avoid mosquito, flea or tick bites as far as possible.
4. Update yourself about the safe methods available to handle foods, be it for yourself, your family, pets or other animals.
5. Ensure that you safeguard yourself from bites and scratches of animals.