Humans have co-existed with animals for millenia. Pets primarily provide companionship and the dog, cat and bird are by far the most common pets for these reasons. Despite the fact that we live so closely with these animals, it is not entirely without any health risk. There are several infectious diseases that humans can contract from their pets. Some are mild but others can be very serious, and even life-threatening. We now know that very close contact between humans and animals can even lead to new types of infectious agents which could pose a threat to global human health. What is a zoonotic illness? Zoonotic infections or illnesses are diseases that humans can acquire from pets. It may be in the form of a virus, bacteria, protozoa, fungi or parasitic worms. There are some misconceptions when it comes to zoonotic illnesses in general. Firstly, it is not related to animals in a zoo nor is it only from wild animals. You can get these infections from even domestic animals within your home who appear to be good in health. Secondly, these types of illnesses can occur globally and not only in underdeveloped nations where humans and animals share resources such … Continue reading Pet Diseases That Affect Humans (Dogs, Cats, Birds)