In the news: zoonoses

Just 140 years ago. For example, on July 6, 1885, Louis Pasteur administered the first anti -rabic vaccine to a human, little Joseph Meister then aged 9, who had been bitten by a rabid dog. Consequently, The young patient survived: it was a discovery. Meanwhile, a major therapeutic advance, because until then, most of the people affected succumbed to the disease. Similarly, This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World Day against Zoonoses every July 6.

Rabies, a disease now neglected

Rage, which WHO today describes as “neglected” tropical disease, remains an important zoonotic infection. Similarly, It is transmitted by the contaminated saliva during bites. scratches and injuries caused by animals, mainly dogs, cats, ratwolves, skirts and bats. In some countries news: zoonoses (such as Mexico) where rage due to a dog bite has however been declared eradicated. cases involving wild animals continue to be diagnosed.

In the event of a bite by a potentially rabid animal. it is recommended to wash the wound in water and soap for at least 10 minutes, to make a debridement if necessary and a meticulous examination, to leave the wound open to promote drainage, to use a tetanical toxoid and to determine whether, in addition to the anti -rabic vaccine, the administration of immunoglobulins is necessary. People at risk. such as veterinarians, speleologists or people working with wild animals, must receive the anti-rabic vaccination scheme as pre-exhibition prophylaxis.

An increasing number of zoonoses

According to WHO, 3 in 5 diseases recently appeared in humans are of animal origin. Zoonoses are responsible for more than 2.4 billion cases of diseases in the human population, news: zoonoses constituting a public health problem worldwide.

Zoonoses have multiple transmission paths.

• One of them is direct contact with animals: by contact with the skin. by bite, by exposure to saliva, urine or infected animal excrement.

• Another form is indirect contact. which can occur in places where animals live or wander, such as aquariums, chicken coops, caves or barns.

• There are also zoonoses transmitted by vectors. for which microorganisms use certain invertebrates (generally insects or mites) as tanks, as is the case of ticks or mosquitoes which can transmit rickettsiosis or yellow fever respectively.

• Finally. food transmission can also occur by the consumption of contaminated foods, such as non -pasteurized (raw) milk or insufficiently cooked meat, causing diseases such as brucellosis or toxoplasmosis.

Emerging zoonoses. such as oropouche or nipah viruses, and the increase in human cases of avian flu, leptospirosis or myiase due to Cochliomyia hominivoraxremind us that news: zoonoses human health and animal health are closely linked. In order to preserve human health. it is therefore important to promote the “One Health (A single health) »Encouraged by the WHO, in order to provide a multidisciplinary response to the new public health challenges.