How to Prevent the Transmission of Zoonotic Diseases

Zoonotic diseases are viruses and bacteria that cross the barrier between humans and animals, making exposure to an animal with a zoonoses risky to people. The most widely recognized viral disease passed on to human from animals is rabies, although it is only one of many.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Keep youngsters away from animals that you suspect may be ill. Children are at a greater risk of contracting a zoonotic disease because their curiosity overcomes their common sense. In addition, children may not follow strict hand-washing and hygiene standards, increasing their risk of contracting a disease.

2. Seek medical attention if a pet or other animal bites you. Even if your dog is current on his vaccinations, a bacterial infection is possible and damage to tissue from a puncture wound needs thorough evaluation. In addition, scratches from cats can result in cat-scratch fever, a condition causing swollen lymph glands and a high fever. Your doctor can treat the wound and prescribe medication to ward off illness.

3. Prevent children from petting stray animals. Although the risk of contracting rabies from domestic animal bites is down due to vaccination laws, it is impossible to determine whether a stray has been cared for and received his immunizations. Call animal control officers to be safe.

4. Watch children closely when camping or trekking through wilderness areas. Dead animals fascinate kids but active bacteria can still be present. Instruct children to stay away from cute little squirrels and chipmunks that scamper around the campsite looking for treats.

5. Instill rigorous hand-washing habits in children after they pet the dog or cat. Family pets can harbor tiny intestinal worms and when they clean themselves, the worm eggs pass to their mouths. Have your pets frequently de-wormed and contact your family physician if you think your child has contracted a parasite.

6. Stay away from pets who exhibit diarrhea. Infectious diseases that cause diarrhea in animals are often zoonotic and can pass easily to humans. Usually transmitted in feces and saliva, the organisms cause cramping, diarrhea and vomiting in infected humans.

7. Talk to kitty from a distance if you’re pregnant. Toxoplasmosis is a dangerous zoonoses that affect the unborn fetus and can result in mental retardation. To be on the safe side don’t pet the cat early in your pregnancy and let someone else change the litter box. Because toxoplasmosis also exists in soil, avoid gardening while pregnant.

8. Treat your pets with flea and tick repellant to avoid contracting a tick-borne illness, such as Lyme disease. If a tick bites you, call your doctor for instructions. Early treatment can reduce the likelihood of contracting the disease.

Tips & Warnings

• Any scratch or bite from an animal or insect should be checked by a doctor, especially if soreness and redness spreads outwards from the area.

[gahazeleyes]

on 6/15/2009 Thanks for teaching me something new.

[admiller]

on 5/24/2009 I learned a new word! Very informative article. Thank you.