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World Zoonoses Day is celebrated in reference to the first administration of the rabies vaccine on July 6, 1885. Every year we remember how the French biologist Louis Pasteur prevented a child, bitten by a rabid dog, from contracting the disease.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that 60% of all existing infectious diseases are zoonotic. In addition, it points out that at least 70% of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals.
Avian influenza, Ebola, and West Nile virus are other examples of zoonotic diseases that have been discovered over the years. Zoonotic pathogens can be bacterial or parasitic and they can spread to humans through direct or indirect contact.
That is, humans can be infected through food, water or the environment. Even infections can come from intermediary species such as pets or farm animals. This is because the use of antibiotics in animals raised for food increases the potential for drug-resistant strains of zoonotic pathogens.
Given this panorama, the prevention against the spread of zoonotic diseases transmitted by food, and the guidelines for the care of animals in the agricultural industry are vital. It is important to have access to clean drinking water and to properly dispose of waste.
Protecting and managing the health of domestic animals is vital, when we prevent their diseases we safeguard the health of people. Therefore, it is advisable to keep vaccinations up to date and have adequate hygiene when in contact with pets, such as washing your hands.
5 things to keep in mind about rabies
- It is a 100% preventable disease: vaccinating animals protects them and also the humans with whom they live on a daily basis.
- Asia and Africa have the highest number of infections: tens of thousands of victims die each year.
- Dogs are the main source for humans: they contribute up to 99% of all transmissions to humans and are the leading cause of rabies deaths.
- It is important to wash the wound well: after being attacked by an animal suspected of having rabies, cleaning the wound properly can save your life.
- Almost half of the victims are children: 40% of people bitten by animals suspected of having rabies are children under 15 years of age.
CDC recommendations to avoid contagion with zoonotic diseases
- Make sure your pet receives veterinary care to help protect the animal and your family from possible parasitic infections.
- Pick up your pet’s feces immediately and dispose of them properly. Be sure to wash your hands after handling your pet’s feces.
- Wash your hands frequently especially after handling animals, and avoid contact with animal feces.
- Follow proper food handling procedures to reduce the risk of transmission from contaminated food.
- People with weakened immune systems should be especially careful about contact with animals that could carry these infections.
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