World Zoonoses Day

What are zoonoses?

Zoonoses are diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans. Each year, 1 in 3 people around the world will fall ill with a zoonotic disease, and for some this will be fatal.

World Zoonoses Day commemorates the great French biologist, Louis Pasteur, who in 1885 successfully administered the first vaccination against a zoonotic disease. The day was created to educate and communicate with people on the diseases that start in animals and transmit to humans.

The UK has seen an alarming increase in exotic zoonoses in recent years as a direct result of increased pet importation, and at the moment there is a limited mandatory testing regime in place for important pets, which leaves the door open for a range of transmissible and zoonotic diseases.

What can be done to prevent and control zoonoses?

One of the main ways to approach this is to educate the public about the potential risks presented by imported pets and the simple measures they can implement. Some of these measures are universal such as hand washing after being around and touching animals.

Pet owners should be encouraged to vaccinate their pets regularly as this can stop the pet from becoming ill.

Identifying fleas and ticks, as well as cleaning up after pets promptly and properly are all very easy to do and can make a substantial difference.

When we prevent diseases in animals, we safeguard the health of people.

Further reading:

https://healthforanimals.org/animalhealthmatters/index.php