Zoonoses attack: which animal diseases threaten humanity

Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are widespread throughout the world and in many cases cause serious health problems.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 60 percent of the world's existing infectious diseases have zoonotic origins.

According to doctors and veterinary specialists, some zoonotic diseases spread faster and pose a serious threat to humans. Here are some of them:

Rabies - one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases. It is transmitted to humans mainly through bites from dogs, cats, bats, and wild animals. Treatment is effective only if started within the first hours after infection.

Toxoplasmosis - a parasitic disease that is most commonly transmitted to humans from cats. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Sources of infection can also be raw meat and unwashed vegetables.

Salmonellosis - infection occurs through contact with raw chicken meat, eggs, and poultry. It manifests with symptoms of food poisoning - diarrhea, vomiting, high fever.

Brucellosis - transmitted to humans from cattle and small ruminants. Unpasteurized dairy products are the main sources of infection. It is accompanied by prolonged fever, weakness, and joint pain.

Influenza viruses (swine flu, bird flu) - viruses that can be transmitted from animals to humans and cause global pandemics. An example is H1N1 (swine flu), which spread in 2009.

Leptospirosis - a disease that spreads through water and soil, transmitted to humans from environments contaminated with rodent urine, such as rats. It is characterized by fever, headache, and muscle pain.

Specialists recommend following a number of preventive measures to prevent zoonoses. These include regular veterinary examinations of pets, timely vaccination, thorough heat treatment of dairy and meat products, and strict adherence to personal hygiene rules.

The Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities also conduct educational activities in this area. It is especially recommended to be careful for people engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.