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- Illnesses that can pass from animals to humans are known as zoonotic.
- These types of illnesses can be common and are typically spread through contact with animals or animal waste.
- Rabies is a famous zoonotic disease, but other examples include giardia and ringworm.
- Make sure to wash your hands after handling animals and be careful when interacting with wild animals.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Illnesses that can pass from animals to humans are known as zoonotic. They’re surpisingly common: More than six out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people are actually contracted from animals, according to the CDC.
Zoonotic diseases are typically spread through contact with animals or animal waste, though some can be caught by eating contaminated food products.
INSIDER consulted with medical experts to identify a few diseases that can pass from animals to people and how you can protect yourself.
You can catch "cat scratch fever" through cat bites or scratches.
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A Bartonella infection, also known as cat scratch fever, is caused by a bacterium called Bartonella henselae. It’s usually spread from cats to humans through a bite or scratch. One of the first signs of an infection might be scabbing or pustules at the wound site, but more serious symptoms can develop.
"The infection is usually self-limited, but can cause lymph node swelling or a fever without an obvious source. For those with compromised immune systems — especially young children — it can also cause serious complications, spreading into the bloodstream, GI tract, and even the heart," infectious disease specialist Dr. Theresa Fiorito told INSIDER.
Bartonella is most common in kittens, especially strays and young shelter cats. Most cat scratches don’t lead to infection and treatment is usually a simple course of antibiotics. In rare cases, eye infections, severe muscle pain, or brain swelling may occur.
Anthrax can be transmitted by animals like cattle, sheep, and deer.
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Though anthrax is most commonly associated with bioterrorism, this rare disease is actually caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis and can be spread by both domestic and wild animals. People can become infected by anthrax if they breathe in anthrax spores, consume contaminated food or water, or are exposed through broken skin.
Symptoms can vary based on the way someone was exposed but often include blisters or sores with a black center, fever, headache, nausea, body pain, shortness of breath, confusion, and painful swallowing. Treatment normally involves taking antibiotics, antitoxin, or both. Anthrax is a serious condition that can be fatal.
According to the World Health Organization, cattle, sheep, goats, antelope, and deer are the most common source of animal-transmitted anthrax. People who work with animals or animal products are most at risk of exposure, though contracting anthrax is still extremely rare.
You can contract the orf virus from goat yoga and petting zoos.
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The orf virus generally affects small ruminants like sheep and goats, but it can be passed to humans through contact with infected animals or contaminated items.
"Orf typically presents with a pustule that ultimately progresses into a sore, usually on the hand. There was an increase in orf diagnoses as goat yoga became popular, but it can occur after visiting a farm or petting zoo as well," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Susan Bard told INSIDER.
You can catch orf from petting infected animals, though the virus can also spread through bites or equipment. The resulting sores can be painful but usually heal on their own in about six weeks as long as they are kept clean, dry, and free of bacterial infection. Orf can’t be passed between humans.
Though orf normally isn’t dangerous, some more serious zoonotic diseases can sometimes look like orf, including anthrax. It’s important to get checked out by a doctor if you suspect you’ve contracted an infection from a sheep or goat.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Sophia Mitrokostas)