Zoonotic viruses

Millions of households in the United States have one or more pets. We might come into contact with animals in either urban or rural settings, during travel, while visiting animal exhibits, or while enjoying outdoor activities. However, animals can sometimes carry harmful germs that can spread to people and cause illness — these are known as zoonotic diseases or zoonoses. Zoonotic diseases are caused by harmful germs like viruses, bacterial, parasites, and fungi.

These germs can cause many different types of illnesses in people and animals, ranging from mild to serious illness and even death. Animals can sometimes appear healthy even when they are carrying germs that can make people sick, depending on the zoonotic disease.

Zoonotic diseases are very common, both in the United States and around the world. Scientists estimate that more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.

These can include:. Examples include petting or touching animals, and bites or scratches. Examples include aquarium tank water, pet habitats, chicken coops, barns, plants, and soil, as well as pet food and water dishes. Eating or drinking something unsafe, such as unpasteurized raw milk, undercooked meat or eggs, or raw fruits and vegetables that are contaminated with feces from an infected animal.

Contaminated food can cause illness in people and animals, including pets. Anyone can get sick from a zoonotic disease, including healthy people. However, some people are more at risk than others and should take steps to protect themselves or family members. These people are more likely than others to get really sick, and even die, from infection with certain diseases.

These groups of people include:. Information on the benefits of pets, disease risks, keeping pets and people healthy, and outbreaks. People can come in contact with animals in many places. This includes at home and away from home, in places like petting zoos, fairs, schools, stores, and parks. Insects, like mosquitoes and fleas, and ticks bite people and animals day and night.

Thankfully, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family from zoonotic diseases. Information on influenza A viruses found in many animals that can sometimes spread to people, like avian and swine flu. Information about antibiotic resistance and how it spreads through people, animals, and the environment. To receive a monthly update highlighting our recent work to prevent infectious disease, enter your email address:.

The workshop report outlines the process, the resulting list of prioritized zoonotic diseases, and discussions and recommendations by the participants. This report is a new resource for organizations that work on One Health issues, the media, and other stakeholders and includes recommendations on how to work together to address the prioritized diseases and strengthen One Health efforts in the United States.

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