Zoonosis simply stands for the transfer of disease or infection from animals to humans and vice-versa due to various factors.  Zoonosis is evolving due to the increase of interdependence of humans on animals and also a close association with pet animals. The potential reservoir of zoonotic disease is deforestation, illegal animal trading, wildlife hunting which increases the contact between wildlife and human. Techniques by which animals are slaughtered, processed, stored, transported and how they are consumed determine the outbreak of infection or disease.

According to WHO, 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases can be spread from animals and 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. Common examples of zoonoses are Rabies, Covid-19, MERS, Bird flu, Swine flu, Anthrax, Brucellosis, Leprosy, and so on. Modes of transmission of zoonotic diseases are Direct/ Indirect contact, Vector-borne(bitten by a tick, mosquito, or a flea), Foodborne, Waterborne, etc. The group that is highly likely to infect by zoonotic diseases are, Adults older than 65, people with a weakened immune system, pregnant women, children below 5 years old, people working in farms or slaughterhouses.

We should wash our hands nice and clean after contact with animals, follow biosecurity practice, quarantine the imported animals, avoid bites and scratches from animals, learn more about how to manage food safely, and try to adopt healthy habits to prevent ourselves from infectious diseases.