ZOONOTIC DISEASES

From Covid-19 to the Black Death, some of the world’s most significant pandemics are caused by zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses- infectious diseases that have jumped from animals to humans. These diseases can be caused by a variety of pathogens: viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi. In the modern era, 60% of all diseases are zoonotic. Zoonoses are responsible for over 2.4 billion cases of human illnesses and 2.2 million deaths annually. These diseases have directly or indirectly cost over 200 billion USD in the last decade. Ebola crossed over from bats to apes and humans, Hantaviruses crossed over from rats to humans, and avian flu crossed over from… you guessed it – chickens.

How do these pathogens spread from animals to humans:

1. Direct Contact: Contact with the saliva, blood, urine, mucous, faeces or other body fluids of an infected animal could lead to the spread of these pathogens.
2. Indirect Contact: Coming into contact with areas where animals live and roam or objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with germs
3. Vector-transmission: This method of transmission involves being bitten by a tick or an insect.
4. Foodborne: Consumption of contaminated food such as animal products can cause the spread of these pathogens.
5. Waterborne: This disease spread method involves drinking or coming in contact with water that has been contaminated by faeces from infected animals.

While most of these steps have become the norm during the ongoing pandemic, here are a few steps on how you can protect yourself from Zoonoses:

1. Wash your hands: This is an essential step to prevent the spread of germs to other human beings, in addition to controlling the entry of these pathogens into your own body.
2. Get vaccinated against zoonotic diseases, such as rabies, which are 100% preventable.
3. Try reducing the chances of vector transmission by preventing bites from mosquitoes, fleas and ticks.
4. Avoid bites and scratches from animals, and see a doctor immediately after being bitten or scratched.
5. Educate yourself on zoonotic diseases by reading articles from health organisations
6. Handle food safely! For example, don’t consume raw meat or animal-based products.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1.http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/vector.htm#:~:text=Vector%2DBorne%20Disease%3A%20Disease%20that,%2C%20Lyme%20disease%2C%20and%20malaria.

2. https://www.cdc.gov/onehealth/basics/zoonotic-diseases.html

3. https://healthforanimals.org/zoonoses.html

4. https://www.healthline.com/health/zoonosis

5. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/zoonoses

6. https://borgenproject.org/ten-facts-zoonoses/