World Zoonoses Day is celebrated every year on 6th July. When we talk of this day, we should start with the novel coronavirus because it is a perfect example of a zoonosis. Zoonosis is the spread of infectious diseases from animals to humans. In the case of the opposite, it is called reverse zoonosis or anthroponosis.
The pathogen is transmitted from animal to human. Then, it spreads from human to human. In the end, it becomes an epidemic.
This year's theme is: "Let's break the chain of zoonotic transmission."
The day aims to spread awareness about the risks of zoonotic diseases.
The French biologist, Louis Pasteur, successfully administered the first vaccine against a zoonotic disease on July 6, 1885. According to Infection Control Today, World Zoonoses Day is observed to honour this achievement.
The day is also observed to spread awareness about the risks associated with zoonotic diseases such as West Nile Virus, Avian Influenza and Ebola. This day emphasizes microbes that pose a threat to human and animal health.
The role of animals in spreading zoonotic diseases is huge. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 75% of new diseases come from them.
Diseases are usually spread when humans come into contact with infected animals or that carry pathogens, when they consume the meat of such an animal, or when they use animal products.
Humans can acquire zoonotic viruses from their pets, from farm animals, from hunting, and from butchers.
A large part of the human population keeps pets, eats animal meat, and there are innumerable butchering houses in the world. So, now you can understand how threatened the human species is!
African sleeping sickness – found in livestock and wild animals; Tsetse is spread by the bite of a fly.
Bird flu – found in chicken and wild birds; transmitted through close contact
Swine flu – Found in pigs; transmitted through close contact
Ebola virus – Found in monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans; transmitted through close contact
Rabies – Found in rats and mice; It is spread through rat bites, mucus and urine secretions.
Anthrax – Found in pigs, cattle, horses, goats, sheep and camels; Transmitted through skin contact or inhalation of spores.
Diarrhoea/Food-borne diseases – Found in domesticated animals or animals raised for meat, spread through raw and undercooked meat.
Nipah virus – Found in primates and rodents; transmitted through contact.
Leprosy – Found in rats, monkeys and rabbits; Transmitted through direct contact and consumption of their meat.
Well, the answer is both "yes" and "no".
This is a "yes" because we can be more careful when handling animals, such as washing hands with soap and water, keeping our pets clean, wearing protective clothing to protect against bites from ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, etc.
We should also store our food items properly so that animals do not come near them. Also, avoid sharing food with animals. Keep your pet's bowl clean to avoid the breeding of germs. This is for the health of you and your pet.
Also, the answer is "no" because we cannot stop humans from eating and butchering animal flesh. Eating meat is a personal choice.
Despite knowing that some diseases are transmitted from animals to humans, people continue to eat animal flesh. Therefore, persuading meat-lovers to stop eating meat seems a daunting task.
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