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Animals as companions
Published in Clive R. Hollin, An Introduction to Human–Animal Relationships, 2021
There are vaccines available for the treatment of allergies, which can cause skin problems and breathing difficulties, although the simple solution for those who are strongly allergic to cats is to find another companion animal. Zoonotic diseases are brought about by bacteria, parasites, and viruses which cross between animals and humans (Murugan et al., 2015). These diseases can be serious, such as with the Ebola virus and salmonellosis, or more manageable as with “cat scratch disease,” a bacterial infection of an open wound caused by a scratch or bite. The risk of ill-health can be managed close to home, as with other pets, by a good health-care regime for the cat including regular vaccinations. On a larger scale, coordinated initiatives such as instigating and maintaining comprehensive records and standardised education for professionals working with animals may bring widespread benefits (Sterneberg-Van der Maaten, Turner, Van Tilburg, & Vaarten, 2016).
Urbanisation and Globally Networked Cities
Published in Kezia Barker, Robert A. Francis, Routledge Handbook of Biosecurity and Invasive Species, 2021
Zoonotic diseases, in contrast, can be transmitted between animals and humans. These include, for example, influenza, rabies, bovine tuberculosis and many viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola or hanta. When compared to vector-borne diseases, they spread quickly and possess a higher mobility as they are not confined to certain geographical areas or climatic conditions but depend on their host organisms’ survival. H5N1 could very much post a threat to people living in Novosibirsk. The management of zoonotic diseases needs to engage with human as well as with animal health and with the environments the species in question inhabit and co-produce.
Out of Nowhere
Published in Rae-Ellen W. Kavey, Allison B. Kavey, Viral Pandemics, 2020
Rae-Ellen W. Kavey, Allison B. Kavey
At least 75% of emerging and re-emerging diseases in the last half century are either zoonotic, vector-borne, or – like WNV – both. Such diseases emphasize the importance of interrelationships among humans, animals, and the environment in the emergence and diffusion of disease in our increasingly connected world. The One Health Initiative is based on this concept – that human, animal, and ecological health are inextricably linked.36 No emerging disease narrative exemplifies this better than the arrival of WNV in New York where – out of nowhere – a previously unknown virus established host reservoirs in local bird flocks from which mosquito vectors perpetuated the infection, incidentally infecting naïve human hosts and spreading rapidly throughout the entire Western Hemisphere. It was a veterinarian caring for exotic tropical birds who first identified the virus and crow deaths have subsequently been shown to be a sensitive sentinel surveillance system for WNV.2,37 Direct collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, and epidemiologists to address the animal and human interface behind zoonotic outbreaks is an important approach to creation of effective treatment and prevention strategies at local, national, and international levels.
Mitigating the environmental impact of NSAIDs - physiotherapy as a contribution to One Health and the SDGs
Published in European Journal of Physiotherapy, 2023
By reducing, or at least delaying pharmacotherapy demands, physiotherapy effectively constitutes a hitherto underappreciated contribution to a variety of SDGs even beyond SDG3. Building on what we have outlined here, these include SDG2 (zero hunger), SDG6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG14 (life below water), and even SDG15 (life on land) if we consider NSAIDs effect on humans and other species [31]. Through its potential contribution to the improvement of life on land and below water, physiotherapy thus equally constitutes a One Health intervention, that is, a healthcare intervention that simultaneously contributes to better health of humans, animals, and ecosystems alike. More explicitly than its sibling developments (planetary health, ecosystems health, and sustainable healthcare), One Health focuses on the complex interactions between animals, ecosystems, and human health as a critical nexus for understanding and ensuring health around the world [32]. One Health has a strong focus on managing and preventing zoonotic diseases – transmitted between animals and humans – like the current COVID-19 pandemic, for human health benefits. But One Health also implies care for the health of animals and ecosystems, beyond anthropocentric concerns. It is in this way that physiotherapy could be argued to constitute a One Health intervention in the way we are suggesting here, as an intervention that simultaneously contributes to better health of humans, animals, and ecosystems [33,34].
Variant influenza: connecting the missing dots
Published in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 2022
Vivek Chavda, Rajashri Bezbaruah, Tutumoni Kalita, Anupam Sarma, Juti Rani Devi, Ratnali Bania, Vasso Apostolopoulos
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized zoonosis as any infection or illness that could spontaneously be transmitted either from non-human vertebrates to humans or from the human population to animal species [1-3]. The word ‘zoonoses’ was derived using the Greek words ‘zoon,’ which denotes animal, and ‘nosos,’ which implies disease. Approximately 61% of the human pathogens are zoonotic [4,5]. Since all living beings, including both animals and humans as well as the environment, contribute to the pathogenesis and prevalence of the disease, it was reported that a significant percentage of infectious diseases that impact people are caused by animals [6]. In recent decades, human diseases of animal origin have evolved, and these diseases have been linked to animal origin diets. Some diseases, such as HIV infection, start out as zoonosis, but later the strains mutate and affect only humans. Zoonoses are a notable health concern as well as a direct human health risk that can cause death [7]. Additionally, the 13 most frequent zoonoses have had the greatest impact on poor livestock workers in economically developing countries, causing an estimated 2.4 billion infected cases of the disease and 2.7 million human deaths per year [8]. The majority of these diseases have a negative influence on animal health and reduce animal productivity considerably [4].
Infodemic, social contagion and the public health response to COVID-19: insights and lessons from Nigeria
Published in Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 2022
Bridget O. Alichie, Nelson Ediomo-Ubong, Blessing Nonye Onyima
The focus of this study is Nigeria, which is currently estimated at roughly 206.1 million ([24,p.1756] citing United Nations Population Fund, 2020). The touting of Nigeria as the most populous nation in Africa is also linked to the growing challenge of pervasive information falsehood spread on social media platforms [26]. This study, therefore, reflects on false news trends related to COVID-19 as well as links to previous zoonotic viral diseases in Nigeria (e.g. Ebola, Lassa, and Monkeypox). Relevant published research and gray literature on zoonotic diseases and public health responses are reviewed. A textual analysis was employed to synthesize and analyze secondary data sources collected between July and August 2020. Thereafter, detailed interpretation was done in order to enable extrapolations to be made in line with the study objectives in subsequent sections.