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| Zoonotic Diseases One Health CDC |
Updated today: 30/05/2021
The pandemic we are going through also brings a wave of misinformation which, in these conditions, proves to be extremely dangerous for public health, and for this problem there is only one effective solution: correct information. One of the terms that has been circulating in recent months is "zoonotic disease," but what does that mean?
"Simply, a zoonotic disease is one that originates in animals and is transmitted to humans," said Barbara Han, a researcher in disease ecology at the Cary Institute for the Study of Ecosystems in New York, USA, quoted by Live Science and Descopera.
Scientists at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain that these diseases are prevalent worldwide and can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi. The infections that these pathogens can cause can have serious severity, ranging from mild symptoms to even death.
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| How are animal and human diseases interconnected? Foodsource |
Experts estimate that about 60% of the infectious diseases we can suffer from can be spread by animals, and more importantly, three out of four new types of infections originate in animals.
How are these diseases transmitted?
Direct contact with animals proves to be the simplest way we can be infected with pathogens of animal origin, we are talking here about caresses, bites or scratches, because of this, those who work with animals daily are at greater risk of infection. . Unfortunately, even pets / pets are proving to be a potential source of exposure to pathogens in the animal microbiome.
How are these diseases transmitted?
Direct contact with animals proves to be the simplest way we can be infected with pathogens of animal origin, we are talking here about caresses, bites or scratches, because of this, those who work with animals daily are at greater risk of infection. . Unfortunately, even pets / pets are proving to be a potential source of exposure to pathogens in the animal microbiome.
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| How are animal and human diseases interconnected? Foodsource |
Researchers also point out that contracting a zoonotic disease can also be achieved through indirect contact, in which case we should pay attention to the water we consume or use, especially if it has come into contact with animals. Some pathogens of animal origin can also be transmitted through the air we breathe, for example Hantaviruses fall into this category, being transmitted through the fecal particles of rodents that reach the air we breathe.
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| Hantavirus Briej Twiter |
Some zoonotic diseases are also transmitted through intermediaries, ticks or other organisms transmit through the blood the pathogens responsible for these diseases from animals to humans or between humans. These "intermediates" include mosquitoes or fleas, which transmit the Zike virus and the plague, respectively.
The most common zoonotic diseases
Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations work together internationally to identify and manage the situation of these zoonotic diseases. Although this list is much longer, the CDC points out that the following eight are under constant scrutiny by the authorities:
Zoonotic flu
Salmonellosis
West Nile virus
Lyme disease
Why is zoonotic disease a threat?
Scientists explain that these diseases are a constant cause for concern for two important reasons: their incidence is increasing and the inability to determine where the next threat will occur.
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| Ecology of zoonoses: natural and unnatural histories The Lancet |
One of the hypotheses that enjoys widespread support in the scientific community and which explains why the incidence of these diseases that originate in animals is increasing is the one that emphasizes the fact that we humans are increasingly invading animal habitats. We must also take into account the fact that our world is more and more connected, which exponentially increases the possibility that such a disease will spread over a large area in a very short time.
How do we protect ourselves?
Given the fact that the appearance of these diseases is not under our control, we need a plan to protect ourselves from them. First of all, we must be aware that, no matter what we see in the media, nature does not try to eliminate us and that the high risk of such diseases is small, but which should not be ignored.
Under these conditions, researchers recommend that we take care of personal hygiene, especially when we come in contact with animals and make sure that our pets or pets follow the recommended vaccine schedule, both for their health and for our health.
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