Awareness of zoonotic diseases

Zoonotic diseases are something, which are passed from animals or insects to humans. They are naturally caused by harmful germs like viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi. The zoonotic diseases that have been detected so far in Bangladesh include dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Nipah, swine flu, anthrax, rabies, HIV, and coronavirus, the latest example of a global public health emergency. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us the need for creating vigilance and awareness on zoonotic diseases.

Animals, particularly wild animals, are the source of more than 70 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases in humans, many of which are caused by novel viruses. Wild mammals, in particular, pose a risk of new diseases. Many indigenous people in our country still live on poaching wild animals like mongooses, monitor lizards, wild cats and others for food. These people should be made aware of the danger of spreading zoonotic diseases. We need social science, not just medical science, to beat an epidemic. The illegal global trade of wild animals must come to an end and for this international cooperation with all governments, intergovernmental organisations and communities is needed, as well.

Ashikujaman Syed and Samia Jahan,

syedashikujaman@yahoo.com,

jahan0.7samia@gmail.com