Perhaps you have heard the term "zoonotic disease" or "zoonose" before but even if you are not familiar with these terms you are without a doubt familiar with some of the diseases themselves. Some common zoonotic diseases are Avian Flu, Swine Flu, West Nile Virus, Rabies, and Lyme disease. Zoonotic diseases, sometimes referred to as zoonosis are infectious diseases that can be passed from animals to human beings. In this article we will address some of the more common ways these illnesses are passed from animal to human, what your risks are and how to reduce the possibility of acquiring such an illness.

Recently, a series of reports were released by the medical community regarding zoonotic diseases and the risks involved for pet owners. Some of these reports bordered on near hysteria. How much of the hype was the medical community and how much was the media feeding on public reaction is difficult to assess. While zoonotic disease is a concern and should be addressed, the reality of the situation is that you are more likely to contract an illness from another person than you are from your pet.

Zoonoses are passed in several ways. Some are passed directly from animal to human through contact of bodily fluids such as saliva, one example of this would be rabies where an infected animal bites a human and the disease is passed on the saliva from the animal to the open wound of the bite. Others are vector borne meaning that a vector such as an insect must spread them; West Nile virus would be an example of a vector borne zoonose where mosquitoes spread the disease from birds to humans through their bites. Another common way these illnesses are spread is through soil, water, or food that has been contaminated by infected feces. Examples of these illnesses are Salmonella, toxoplasmosis, or E-coli.

The reality is that risk of contracting a zoonotic disease is minimal. With the current vaccination protocols in place for both humans and animals many of these illnesses are kept in check. How often do you hear of an outbreak of rabies or bubonic plague? This is because of the controls in place to help keep such outbreaks in check. However, some individuals are at a higher risk of contracting such illnesses, these people would be those with a weakened immune system such as infants, those suffering with the AIDS virus, older individuals or people receiving cancer treatments. Even though some people may be more susceptible to zoonoses there are several simple and easy steps to take to lower the risk associated with these illnesses.

First and foremost, keep your pets healthy. Make certain that they are up to date on their vaccinations; address any problems such as fleas and ticks immediately to reduce the risk of vector transmission of any disease. Other steps to take are as follows. Do not handle any wildlife unless it is absolutely unavoidable. If you are bitten by an animal wash the wound out immediately and then seek the care of a doctor as soon as you can. Control unwanted pests such as mice, rats and insects around your home. Use the various means of insect bite protection available for yourself and your animals when ever possible. Cook meat and eggs thoroughly and wash vegetables and raw foods well. Practice good hygiene habits especially after cleaning up after your pets, such as cleaning cat litter boxes or scooping the poop in the back yard.

In spite of some reports the reality is that you have as much chance of winning the lottery as you do of contracting a zoonotic disease from your pet. Don’t let unwarranted fears and hyperbole affect the rewarding relationship between you and your best four-legged friend. Being responsible for you and your pets’ health is simply a matter of common sense.