Zoonoses/Shared Disease:

Animals give so much to our lives in so many ways, but our close connections also bring risks. Zoonotic (pronounced “ZOO-oh-NOT-ick”) diseases are diseases that are spread from animals to humans. It is estimated that 75% of all emerging diseases are zoonotic.

Pathogens go both ways

May 13, 2013 | Julie Ciaramella | Leave a comment

Over at the Worms & Germs Blog (which is a great resource if you’re interested in One Health and zoonotic diseases), Dr. Scott Weese writes that pathogens go both ways. When we think about zoonotic diseases, most of the time we think about animals transmitting diseases to humans — not the other way around.

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What to do if you find a bat in your bedroom

May 8, 2013 | Julie Ciaramella | Leave a comment

What would you do if you woke up in the middle of the night and found a bat in your bedroom? A lot of us might be alarmed. Some of us might be clear-headed enough to leave the room, close the door, and call animal control. And some of us might do what Ann Hawthorne of Washington, D.C. did and open a window to let the bat fly out.

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Psittacosis reported in Argentina

May 6, 2013 | Julie Ciaramella | Leave a comment

Argentina has reported five cases of psittacosis, which is also known as parrot fever and ornithosis. It’s caused by Chlamydophila psittaci (formerly known as Chlamydia psittaci). Psittacosis is a bacterial infection in humans, and it can cause severe pneumonia and other serious health problems, according to a National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians report.

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Multistate Salmonella outbreaks linked to live poultry

May 2, 2013 | Julie Ciaramella | Leave a comment

Health departments in Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota have announced salmonella outbreaks related to live poultry. Twenty cases have been confirmed so far, and most of them — seven out of 20 total cases — are in New Mexico. (Minnesota reported three cases; Nebraska, six; and South Dakota, four.)

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Scientists search for source of H7N9

April 10, 2013 | Julie Ciaramella | Leave a comment

Reports have surfaced over the past week about a new strain of avian influenza, H7N9, which was found in China and has infected 24 people and killed eight. So far, scientists say H7N9 can’t be transmitted from human to human, but they’re searching for the source of the virus and determining its pandemic potential.

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