ZOONOSES
- Dr Sarp
- Jan 22, 2020
- 2 min read
The Genesis
Human beings have, since Eden, had a close relationship with animals. Animals are used for companionship, food, labour, recreation, research and as source of certain raw materials for industries. This poses a high risk of exchanging disease causing organisms between human beings and animals. Those infectious disease that spread between human beings and animals are known as zoonoses (singular: zoonosis).
The Numbers
Scientists say more than 6 out of every 10 infectious diseases of human beings originate from animals and close to 8 out every 10 new or emerging infectious diseases of human beings are traceable to animals. Hundreds of diseases fall under this umbrella, common among them are:
Rabies
Ebola
Salmonellosis
Toxoplasmosis
Tuberculosis
Anthrax
and Brucellosis
All people are at risk of zoonotic diseases especially workers and people who constantly handle animals and their products including veterinarians, farmers, pet owners, butchers and hunters. Having a weak immunity places a person higher up on the risk scale, they include:
people with AIDS
elderly people
pregnant women
children under 5 years of age
people with organ transplants
people undergoing cancer treatment
people with congenital defects of the immune system
How likely are you to contract a zoonosis?
By Ingestion
Taking in contaminated food or drink. Raw or under-cooked meat, unpasteurised milk, raw vegetables, water etc. if ingested contaminated may lead to zoonoses.
Through a Vector
Arthropods like fleas and mosquitoes may carry zoonotic pathogens which get hosts infected if bitten.
By Physical Contact
Sick animals may shed pathogens onto their skin, in their blood, faeces, urine, saliva and other body fluids. One may contract a disease from coming into contact with these infected body fluids from an infected animal.
Through Inanimate Object
Objects and tools used on animals or in their housing and bedding materials may harbour organisms that may cause disease upon contact with people.
By Inhalation
A sick animal may shed pathogens into the air that when inhaled by a human being may lead to disease.
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