New guidance on zoonotic diseases
A new report published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has warned that hospitals should pay greater attention to zoonotic diseases.
Authors of the report - "Managing patients for zoonotic disease in the hospital environment" - say animal-related pandemics have been highlighted as a major threat to human health on a global scale.
Keeping exotic pets was identified as a particular risk to human health, alongside travelling abroad, visiting petting zoos and other sources.
The guidance within the report warns against keeping exotic pets due to the difficulties of guarding against infection in the home, though it states that hand-washing with the correct chemicals could "significantly reduce" the amount of germs on your hands.
This, however, does not guarantee protection against infection or ensure that germs are not spread to others.
Co-author Susan Corning, director of Collaborating for Global Health, said: "Given that many human diseases are of animal origin, our article highlights the importance of the early recognition of zoonoses by medical personnel in order to minimise their spread, including within the hospital environment.
"This is a true 'One Health' issue, and there is an urgent need for the medical and veterinary professions to collaboratively plan to ensure that hospital staff can implement simple and effective measures to prevent and control zoonoses."
In the report, authors give a protocol for hospitals to manage patients, and information leaflets on how to prevent the spread of animal-related diseases.
It is thought that zoonoses may commonly go undiagnosed due to their resemblance to common illnesses such as gastrointestinal, respiratory and dermal disease.
Finally the guidance concludes: "Local authorities, doctors, vets, and facility managers should advise their patients and customers of the health risks associated with having an exotic animal as a family pet and should provide appropriate health protection advice."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
