Zoonotic Diseases: Examples, Types and Prevention Strategies

In recent years, there has been an emerging trend in the increase of zoonotic infectious diseases in the world, which is highly concerning and is causing distress among people all over the world. Understanding the zoonotic meaning and the disease’s examples will enable you to take the necessary prevention measures and know how to handle an infection. This article is a comprehensive look into infectious and bacterial zoonotic diseases to help you understand better how to stay in good health. 

Zoonotic Meaning and Examples

Zoonotic diseases, also known as zoonoses, are infections that spread from animals to humans. These diseases are mostly caused by viruses, parasites, bacteria, prions, and fungi. These diseases are common, moreover, it has been stated more than six out of ten known infectious diseases amongst people are spread between people and animals.

You can get infected in various ways, including:

1. Coming into contact with infected fluids of an infected animal
2. Through animal bites
3. Drinking contaminated water
4. Eating meat from an infected animal

There are several examples, this includes Ebola, Rabies, Salmonella, Q fever, Brucellosis and many others. Being well educated on the various zoonotic diseases will be of great help to you in circumstances where there is an outbreak, to enable you to know the right measures to take in its treatment and prevention.

Bacteria Zoonotic Diseases

Zoonotic bacterial diseases are those which spread through bacterial infections from animals to humans. These bacterial infections include:

1. Anaplasmosis: This is a bacteria zoonotic infection that can be transmitted from ticks to humans
2. Q fever: This is contracted by humans through inhaling aerosols
3. Brucellosis: This is a bacteria zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and camels to humans
4. Bubonic plague: You can contract this disease from fleas traveling on rodents
5. Campylobacteriosis: This is a bacteria zoonotic disease emerging from cattle and poultry
6. Cat scratch fever: A disease that is spread through bites, scratches, or infected saliva through a human’s broken skin
7. Escherichia coli O157: This is a food and waterborne disease that can cause hemorrhagic colitis, diarrhea, and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans 

Zoonotic Diseases List

There are several examples of diseases transmitted from animals to humans. They include:

1. Avian Influenza: This disease causes respiratory symptoms and is spread from infected birds to humans
2. Hantavirus: This disease is spread through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, which can lead to serious respiratory illness 
3. Rabies: This disease affects the human’s nervous system and is spread through infected animal bites
4. Monkeypox: This is a zoonotic disease that can spread through touching infected animals or their body fluids or even through scratches or bites from the infected animal
5. Brucellosis: This zoonotic disease is transmitted to humans from livestock and causes joint pains, fever, and fatigue
6. Tularemia: This disease is also known as rabbit fever and can spread through contact with wild animals like squirrels, rabbits, and deer
7. West Nile virus infection: You can contract this disease from mosquito bites, which causes headaches, fever, and if severe, it can cause neurological symptoms

Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Zoonotic infectious diseases have now become a major concern for people since they are appearing in modern years. Among zoonotic infectious illnesses are the following:

1. Zika virus: This is a zoonotic infectious disease that can be transmitted from mosquitoes and non-human primates
2. Ebola virus: This is a viral hemorrhagic fever that has a high mortality rate
3. Chikungunya virus: This zoonotic infectious disease can be transmitted to humans from mosquitoes and non-human primates
4. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome: This infectious disease originates from dromedary camels
5. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: This is a zoonotic infectious disease that is thought to have originated from bats
6. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: A zoonotic infectious disease that is thought to have originated from bats

Prevention Strategies

There are several measures that can be implemented to prevent emerging zoonotic infectious diseases. Understanding the zoonotic meaning will help you in implementing a specific prevention measure. The prevention measures include:

1. Early Detection
2. Having one health approach
3. Education
4. Improving sanitary measures
5. Vaccines
6. Surveillance
7. Laboratory diagnostics

Conclusion

Zoonotic diseases have been a major issue worldwide, and understanding the various types of diseases and the prevention measures will go a long way in helping you live a healthier life. You should consider every possibility of contracting zoonotic infectious diseases and take action immediately. Through the adoption of collaborative approaches with public authorities, veterinarians, individuals and communities, you can better prepare and respond to the threat posed by zoonotic infectious diseases.