Zoonotic Diseases
What is a zoonotic disease?
Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses) are caused by infections shared between animals and humans.
What are some common zoonotic diseases?
There are over 200 zoonotic diseases. Some of the most common include:
Why are zoonotic diseases important?
They can cause severe illness in humans and animals. Many could be used as a bioterrorism agent such as:
- Anthrax
- Plague
- Tularemia
How are they transmitted?
Zoonotic diseases can be caused by a variety of ways. The most common are:
Respiratory or inhalation
- Anthrax
- Hantavirus
- Psittacosis
Vector
- West Nile Virus
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Direct Contact
- Monkey pox
- Plague
- Q Fever
- Rabies
Food or Water
- E-coli 0157:H7
- Salmonella
- Trichinosis
- Giardiasis
How can zoonotic diseases be prevented or controlled?
Wash hands often, especially when:
- Preparing food
- Using the restroom
- Handling pets or other animals
- Cleaning up pet waste
- Routinely clean and disinfect areas accessed by pets
- Handle and prepare foods safely
- Protect yourself from ticks and mosquitoes
Avoid contact with wild animals such as:
- Reptiles (turtles and lizards)
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Do not keep exotic animals such as lizards, prairie dogs as pets
If you find a dead animal:
- Wear rubber gloves when disposing of them
- Wrap the dead animal in double plastic bag when disposing
What are some signs that people should look for and report?
- Abortions
- Rodent die-offs
- Neurological symptoms
- Skin nodules or pox-like lesions
- Nasal discharge or respiratory symptoms
- Clusters of unusual, severe or unexplained illnesses or sudden deaths
- Similar illnesses or deaths among different species
Be Alert for the Unusual!
Who should I report suspicious signs to?
- Your local health department
- Your local veterinarian
- N.D. State Veterinarian
- Telephone: 701.355.1540
- N.D. Department of Health – Division of Disease Control
- Telephone: 701.328.2378
- Toll Free: 800.472.2180
- After hours or during an emergency call: 800.472-2121
Where can I find more information about zoonotic diseases?
- Your local veterinarian
- Your local health department
- 701.483.0171
- N. D. State Veterinarian
- Telephone: 701.328.2653
- N. D. Health Department
- Division of Disease Control
- Telephone: 701.328.2378
- Toll Free: 800.472.2180
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Office of International Epizootic (OIE)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Crystalynn Kuntz
Emergency Preparedness Regional Coordinator
-
Kalen Ost
Emergency Preparedness Information Specialist
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Public Health
Physical Address
500 E. Front Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58504
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 5503
Bismarck, ND 58504
Phone: 701-355-1540Fax: 701-221-6883