By: Surjit Singh Flora
(Samajweekly) The annual World Zoonoses Day raises awareness of animal-borne illnesses
that may infect people and celebrates worldwide efforts to reduce the risk.
Every year on July 6, World Zoonoses Day raises awareness of zoonotic
diseases and encourages proper action. They may harm humans and animals and
disrupt economies and lives.
According to the CDC, 60% of current infectious illnesses are zoonotic and
70% of developing infectious diseases start in animals. Louis Pasteur, a
French scientist, gave the first rabies vaccination to a youngster bitten by
a rabid dog on July 6, 1885. Vaccination rescued the infant from rabies and
death. Many zoonotic illnesses include rabies.
Other zoonotic disease outbreaks in India include avian influenza in 2006,
swine flu in 2009, and Corona Virus in 2020. C.D.C. estimates worldwide H1N1
influenza death toll in Swine flu pandemic was around 2,84,000. Rabies
killed the most people (88.31%) in January-April 2021.The COVID-19 pandemic
shows how one population may spread zoonotic infectious illness
internationally.
Animal pathogens-viral, bacterial, or parasitic-can transfer to people via
direct contact or contaminated food, drink, or the environment. Uncooked
meat, eggs, milk, and canned or undercooked vegetables may potentially
spread zoonotic infections. It may spread by tick bite. Kissing birds, bare
hand touching fungal-infected pet, dog bite, or licking wound are
alternative zoonotic disease transmission methods. Not merely bats or
monkeys are its source. It might originate from agricultural and domestic
animals. Bats contain the most undiscovered human-infecting diseases,
according to research. Thus, animals are crucial to zoonotic illnesses.
Studies have found around 250 zoonotic viruses, but many more may remain
undiscovered. Environmental changes, animal interactions, livestock
production, and human behavior affect zoonotic disease emergence and
dissemination. Wildlife trafficking, habitat loss, food safety issues, and
poor sanitation also spread zoonotic illnesses.
Rabies is a widespread zoonotic illness spread by dog bites, licks, and
scratches. Bats, cats, and foxes carry rabies. OIE reports that a man dies
of rabies every 10 minutes and a dog bites him every 2 seconds.
Rabies causes light and water phobia in people, and the patient will die.
Drinking unpasteurized or unboiled milk causes brucellosis, which causes
abortion in women and infertility in men. Canned, raw, and undercooked food
may spread salmonellosis and botulism, other bacterial zoonotic illnesses.
Severe diarrhea, fever, typhoid, nausea, cramps, and abdominal pain result.
Rodents, which spread deadly Plaque, are ubiquitous in homes. If untreated,
it kills 100%. A cat scratch may cause a zoonotic illness in humans since
17-25% of cat nails carry the bacterium. Fleas spread cat scratch sickness
germs. Another zoonotic illness, dermatophytosis, causes ring-shaped rashes,
itching, and scaling in people. Unwashed hands handling a fungal-infected
animal spread it.
Zoonotic disease prevention and management need multi-sectoral cooperation.
The “One Health” strategy promotes human, animal, and environmental health
cooperation.
Promoting hygiene like Wash hands before and after eating. Never eat raw
veggies. Avoid eating raw meat. Boil milk before consuming. Human and pet
vaccinations are essential. Avoid feeding cats and dogs raw meat and offal.
Public education regarding zoonotic diseases and their prevention is
essential to encouraging responsible behavior and limiting transmission.
Maintaining the health of companion animals is crucial. We protect human
health by preventing animal illnesses.
