Pet owners and vets need to work together to prevent infectious zoonotic diseases

The global Covid-19 pandemic and mpox and Ebola outbreaks serve as stark reminders of how diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans with severe consequences.

- Alwyn Tan

These high-profile outbreaks have raised public awareness about zoonotic diseases — those that spread between animals and humans. Yet, these headline-making diseases are just the tip of the iceberg.

Infectious animal diseases take various forms, such as newly discovered contagious diseases, familiar pathogens which appear in new areas and even common bacteria that develop resistance to the usual treatments.

It is particularly concerning that 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animals, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

WHY PET OWNERS SHOULD BE CONCERNED

Urbanisation is increasing interactions between wildlife, pets and humans; climate change is allowing disease-carrying insects to survive in new areas; and global connectivity means diseases can spread faster.

These increase the risk of pets being exposed to pathogens.

In addition, evolving pet-care practices, such as feeding raw meat diets and the closer sharing of living spaces between pets and owners, are creating conditions that encourage the spread of zoonotic diseases.

The good news is that veterinarians are at the front line of detecting and preventing these zoonotic disease threats. They are part of an early warning system that helps identify potential infectious disease risks before they become major outbreaks.

When veterinarians notice unusual health or behavioural patterns in their patients, it can signal broader health concerns that might affect the community.