Fears over rise in animal to human diseases

By Linnette Leyi

Two and a half years ago, the world was taken aback following news of a raging pandemic; COVID-19, with reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and China stating that the virus causing the disease (SARS-CoV-2) was transmitted from bats to humans through a zoonotic spillover which happened after people allegedly ate bats.

The market in Wuhan where the first infections are said to have originated from, sold live animals of all kinds. Scientists do agree that COVID-19 is a zoonosis, a human disease of animal origin.

Newsline spoke to the Head of Unit, Infectious Diseases (IDU)- Dr. Phoebe Juma about zoonotic diseases.

“A zoonosis or zoonotic disease is an infectious disease that passes from an insect or a nonhuman animal to humans, and sometimes vice-versa. Zoonotic pathogens are most of the time harmless to the animals, but harmful to the human species,” she said.

These pathogens may be bacterial, viral, or parasitic, and can spread to humans through direct contact or food, water, or the environment.

Zoonoses can be transmitted in various ways: • through the air, • by eating contaminated meat or produce, • through close contact with an infected animal, • by touching an area or surface that an infected animal touched, • through insect bites like mosquitos or ticks.

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Zoonotic diseases are very common. Scientists estimate that at least 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. “There are many zoonotic diseases but the most common ones are Rabies, Plague, Brucellosis, Ebola, Bird Flu, H1N1 (“swine flu”), Cat Scratch Fever, and Coronavirus, among others,” explained Dr. Juma.

“People at the highest risk of being infected are those that interact closely with either domestic or wild animals,” she continued.

Other individuals at high risk include:

• Children younger than 5,

• Adults older than 65,

• People with weakened immune systems,

• Pregnant women It is therefore important to interact carefully with animals since we share the same ecosystem. Animals provide food, fiber, livelihoods, travel, sport, companionship, and education for people across the globe.

In Kenya, for instance, many households have one or more pets, and others keep animals for their produce.

“We might come into contact with animals both at home and away from home, during travel, while visiting animal exhibits/ zoos, or while enjoying outdoor activities,” she added.

“For domestic animals and pets, it is important to keep them and their habitats clean,

vaccinate them, maintain hygiene practices after interacting with them, proper disposal of pet waste, and conduct routine veterinary care,” urged Dr. Juma.

As mentioned earlier, one may also get zoonosies after eating contaminated meat or produce, like milk.

Dr. Juma advised that one should thoroughly cook or process any products meant for consumption and also handle them hygienically.

For wildlife, one may need to exercise extra caution as follows:

• Approach all animals with caution,

• Stay alert at all times,

• Study the behavior of the species,

• Take precautions against zoonotic diseases,

• Minimize allergic reactions,

• Inspect handling facilities for safety,

• Wear personal protective equipment,

• Restrain animals properly,

• Get vaccinated in case of an outbreak. Zoonotic diseases are a growing concern given multiple factors: their often novel and unpredictable nature, their ability to emerge anywhere and spread rapidly around the globe, and their major economic toll on several diverse industries as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is therefore important for us to interact carefully with animals and the environment they live in.