Zoonosis
It’s time we face the facts. The facts are there and difficult to comprehend but we are a dying society…and most of the illness and death we are facing is due to Zoonosis; animal to human transmission! And many times when a human contracts a disease from an animal, that human then can transmit the illness to other humans; an example is the present Coronavirus which is spreading across the world presently (March 2020). Members of our families are dying from heart disease, diabetes, strokes, Alzheimer’s and cancer…all related to the flesh and fluids that we extract from animals; disguised in so many ways to bypass our natural survival instinct of Disgust so that we can ‘eat and drink’ our way to oblivion. Here is the one fact that we all must face; this interface is harmful.
A. Zoonosis. Animals are carriers of bacteria, viruses (such as the Coronavirus), parasites, and fungi…these are what we call ‘germs’ and can cause various illnesses and/or death. An animal to human transmission of disease is called a zoonotic disease or zoonoses.. Animals can sometimes appear healthy even when they are carrying germs that can make people sick, depending on the zoonotic disease. Another fact; zoonotic diseases are pandemic and can contribute to millions of deaths; examples include the Spanish Flu of 1917-18, which killed 50 million people in the world. The scientific consensuses is that it originated from northern China and genetics reveal it is ‘avian’ (comes from birds).
Zoonotic diseases are very common, both in the United States and around the world. Scientists from the CDC estimate that more than 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. A review of some of the major diseases can be traced directly to ‘animal to human’ transmission. The transmission, according to the CDC, can be;
- Direct contact: Coming into contact with the saliva, blood, urine, mucous, feces, or other body fluids of an infected animal. Examples include petting or touching animals, and bites or scratches.
- Indirect contact: Coming into contact with areas where animals live and roam, or objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with germs. Examples include aquarium tank water, pet habitats, chicken coops, barns, plants, and soil, as well as pet food and water dishes.
- Vector-borne: Being bitten by a tick, or an insect like a mosquito or a flea.
- Foodborne: Each year, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food. Eating or drinking something unsafe, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, undercooked meat or eggs, or raw fruits and vegetables that are contaminated with feces from an infected animal. Contaminated food can cause illness in people and animals, including pets.
- Waterborne: Drinking or coming in contact with water that has been contaminated with feces from an infected animal.
Here are some of the major illnesses that have connected to animal to human transmission: The Spanish Flu (1918), Ebola, Coronavirus, Lime Disease, HIV-AIDS, Bubonic Plague (the Black Death), Malaria, Measles, Swine Flu, H1N1 Flu, and many others.
Next post will be on our Dietary Diseases. Enjoy life, Vegan Doc
