ScienceToday

Diseases transmitted from animals.

Another deadly virus, rabies, can infect humans through infected animal saliva, and it’s usually transmitted through a bite. As data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown, more than 55,000 people die each year from this disease, mostly in areas like Africa and Asia.

In the United States the numbers are much lower, with only one or two deaths a year caused by this infection, the CDC added. Also, the most common animals that can transmit this infection in the United States are bats, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks. However, in Africa and Asia, this disease is mostly gotten from stray dogs.

This disease is deadly, and once you’re infected with it, the chances of survival are minimal. That’s why people who might be at risk of contracting this disease need to get vaccinated in order to be protected.

Even though it’s easily transmitted to bites, rabies can also be transmitted to humans through the viral particles found in saliva, urine, and feces. Therefore, you can become infected by simply breathing in that dust.

Hantaviruses are very dangerous, and Sin Nombre is the most common hantavirus present in the United States, according to the CDC. This virus can cause the disease hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and it’s usually spread through mice. The most common symptoms include fever, headaches, chills, myalgia, gastrointestinal issues, and others.

Even though it’s not exactly the most common disease, a 2015 report from the CDC has shown that its fatality rate is 36%. Also, there have been 600 confirmed cases in America in almost 30 years, the CDC added.