Pet Infections

Study suggests pets may transmit infections, illnesses to humans.
HealthDay (1/21, Mott) reports that "seemingly healthy pets can carry parasites, bacteria or viruses that cause mild to life-threatening" illnesses in humans, according to a report in journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. Of the 250 zoonotic diseases, "more than 100 are derived from domestic pets," said co-author Dr. Bruno Chomel of the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine. Although disease transmission is "low in comparison to how many people sleep with their pets -- more than half of all US pet owners," Chomel said the "risks are still there." Other infections transmitted to people after sleeping with domestic animals, "kissing them or being licked" by pets include "hookworm, ringworm, roundworm, cat scratch disease and drug-resistant staph infections." The elderly, children "younger than 5-years" old, and people "with HIV/AIDS" or cancer are at the greatest risk.