Animal Diseases and Your Health

Animal diseases that people can catch are called zoonoses. About 75 percent of the new diseases affecting humans in the past decade can be traced to animals or animal products. You can get a disease directly from an animal, or indirectly, through the environment.

Farm animals can carry diseases. If you touch them or things they have touched, like fencing or buckets, wash your hands thoroughly. Adults should make sure children who visit farms or petting zoos wash up as well.

Pets can also make you sick. Reptiles pose a particular risk. Turtles, snakes and iguanas can transmit bacteria to their owners. You can get rabies from an infected dog or toxoplasmosis from handling kitty litter of an infected cat. The chance that your dog or cat will make you sick is small. You can reduce the risk by practicing good personal hygiene, keeping pet areas clean and keeping your pets' shots up-to-date.

External Resources

USDA Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS) BSE Information - Government Web site offers general mad cow disease information, news and situation updates and includes a Canada BSE section.

InPro Biotechnology, Inc. - Developing diagnostic tests, process validation to ensure prion-free manufacturing, research reagents, to address health and safety against human and animal prion diseases. Includes introduction to biochemistry, careers and location in South San Francisco, California.

Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis in Humans and Animals Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Control - This timely account of Salmonella Enteritidis as a public threat and a medical problem represents the various efforts of health professionals around the world to understand and control this widespread disease. Unique in its detailed overview of this prevalent disease, this book will be of great value to public health planners and medical and animal health agencies, as well as producers whose food products are susceptible to Salmonella and its devastating consequences on food safety.

Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. - Research and development of vaccines for cattle, swine, poultry and horses, with FAQ and disease index. Larchwood, Indiana, USA.

Eco Animal Health - Worldwide supplier of preventive and treatment medicines for livestock and pets, with information on products and diseases. English, French and Spanish.

WHO: Zoonotic Diseases: Animal and Food-related Health Risks - Features factsheets, meetings, reports, issues, and publications.

Animal Health, Emerging Animal Disease (AHEAD) - Federation of American Scientists' project for proactive surveillance of zoonoses and other animal diseases. Includes information on rabies, West Nile fever, ehrlichiosis, equine encephalitis, anthrax, Pfiesteria, "mad cow" disease, deformed frogs, and diseases of both wildlife and farm animals.

State of Washington Zoonotic and Vector-borne Disease Program - Provides technical assistance and training to local health departments, veterinarians, and the public on the transmission, prevention, control, and epidemiology of diseases transmitted to humans from insects and animals.

Rabies Guidebook - Basic information on the disease from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Animal Health - Disease Information - Rabies - Factsheets and news articles.

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