July 6 is observed as World Zoonoses Day to celebrate Louis Pasteur’s work on rabies vaccination. Rabies is one of the zoonotic diseases that are transmitted to humans from animals. All diseases that can spread from animals to humans are known as zoonotic diseases.

Some of the most impactful zoonotic diseases are Ebola, swine flu, Zika, chikungunya, dengue, brucellosis, and Japanese encephalitis. Zoonotic diseases have remained one of the biggest threats to humans since the existence of early humans. Humans initially started getting diseases from animals through hunting.

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The domestication of animals also brought zoonotic diseases closer home. In this modern society, the threat of zoonotic diseases is as big as ever.

As more and more animals are getting adopted by people, the threat of such diseases is increasing. Zoonotic diseases are spread through animals’ saliva or other animals’ fluid as well as by consuming the meat of infected animals. Zoonotic diseases transmitted to humans by viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites. Animals’ bites are the most common ways that people can catch zoonotic diseases.

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Once bitten by an animal a human is recommended to take anti-venoms or vaccinal injections. The developing countries are the most affected by zoonotic diseases. Many African and Asian countries have seen the worst horror of zoonotic diseases in the past.

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The spread of such diseases is commonly due to a lack of awareness among people. Zoonoses are an emerging threat to the human race as 60% of all infectious diseases are zoonotic diseases. The spread of zoonoses can be either from one host or multi-host. A multi-host zoonotic disease can be transmitted from multiple animals and humans.

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Multi-host zoonotic diseases spread much faster and cause much more death than single-host spread. Several steps can be taken by authorities to avoid catching a zoonotic disease like making more people aware of the threat of such diseases and accelerating vaccination programs.