Diseases transmitted from animals to humans, called zoonoses, represent a serious but often underestimated threat. These emerging diseases pose a significant risk to public health due to their ability to cause devastating epidemics in a short period of time.
Zoonotic diseases can arise from a variety of sources, such as pets, livestock, and wild animals. Close contact with animals is often the starting point for these transmissions, but diseases can also be spread through food, contaminated water or even bites from insects that have been in contact with animals sick. These infections can cause consequences ranging from simple inconveniences to serious, sometimes fatal, illnesses.
Among these zoonotic diseases, some are well known and particularly formidable:
HIV/AIDS: This virus, originating from chimpanzees in West Africa, spread to humans through close contact with them. HIV weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to infections. Although there is no cure for HIV yet, antiretroviral treatments allow infected people to lead relatively normal lives.
Ebola: This deadly virus, which first appeared in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is transmitted from bats to humans, probably through the consumption of bush meat. Ebola outbreaks, characterized by high mortality rates and rapid spread, pose a major threat to global health.
Lyme: This tick-borne illness causes a variety of symptoms, such as a target-shaped rash, fever, fatigue, and joint pain. Although ticks contract the disease-causing bacteria from animals such as deer and mice, they can transmit it to humans through their bites. Early detection and antibiotic treatment are essential to avoid serious complications.
Roundworm infection: These intestinal parasites can cause digestive problems such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and even weight loss. Some roundworms, from pigs, dogs and cats, can infect humans. Good hygiene and avoiding animal feces can help prevent these infections.
Rabies: A viral disease affecting the central nervous system, rabies causes brain inflammation and death if left untreated. Rabies is usually spread through the bite of an infected animal, primarily dogs, bats, raccoons and foxes. Although almost always fatal once symptoms appear, rabies is preventable through vaccination and immediate medical measures after exposure..
These examples represent only a small portion of the many zoonotic diseases that threaten human health.
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself, such as regular hand washing, cooking meat properly, avoiding contact with wild animals, and getting recommended vaccinations. By remaining vigilant and adopting appropriate preventative practices, we can reduce the risk of contracting these diseases and thus protect our health and that of our community.