AR-News: (US) Cuddle with Care

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Forget about bird flu or SARS — you're much more likely to get sick from a pet
By JOAN CAPUZZI, V.M.D.

 

Deadly diseases that cross the species barrier and infect humans — like bird 
flu and SARS — make big headlines these days. But if you're really worried 
about getting an animal disease, you need look no farther than the fluffball 
curled up on your pillow. Cats, dogs, hamsters and snakes are breeding grounds for 
all sorts of microbes and swap molecules with us regularly. Our pets share 
our air, furniture and food dishes. We change their litter, enjoy their slobbery 
affection and endure their occasional bites. 
Of the 1,400 or so recognized human pathogens, 61% are classified as 
zoonotic, or naturally communicable between animals and people. Here are a few of 
them: 
CAT-SCRATCH DISEASE (CSD) This is a bacterial disease that cats transmit to 
people through scratches, bites or infected fleas. More common in children than 
adults, CSD triggers fever, enlarges lymph nodes and may damage major organ 
systems. 



full story:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040223-591302,00.html 


"The world is a dangerous place,
not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing.",
Albert Einstein
      /\   /\         
>' .' <   
                              
There is no justice, just us!  








    
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/attachments/20040216/dea2aeea/attachment.html