Zoonoses explained

Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can pass from animals to humans. Seventy-five per cent of new human diseases are zoonotic.

Some zoonotic diseases, such as hydatids, anthrax, Hendra virus infection, avian influenza or rabies are potentially very serious in humans and can cause fatalities.

It is important that people who handle animals, and people like vets who treat sick animals, are very aware of the risk of zoonotic diseases.

If there is a known risk, people should take active steps to reduce the risk, e.g. by avoiding or minimising contact with potentially infective animals, or by using effective personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling such animals or their products.

• Anthrax
• Avian influenza (bird flu)
• Bats and health risks
• Beef measles
• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or ‘mad cow disease’)
• Brucellosis in pigs
• Hendra virus
• Hydatids - the basics
• Hydatids - you, too, can be affected
• Leptospirosis in cattle herds
• Liver fluke - the basics
• Swine influenza
• Zoonoses - animal diseases transmissible to humans