COVID-19, SERS, MERS, Ebola, Swine Flu—What do they all have in common? These are infections that can transmit from animals to humans, otherwise known as Zoonotic diseases or Zoonosis. After the news of COVID-19 spread across the world, images and videos of Chinese residents consuming bats and other animals flooded the digital space. Moreover, misinformation has led to numerous pets and wildlife being abandoned in the streets or sometimes worse. In a world in which we interact with wildlife and other animals almost daily, there is definitely a need to be cautious about these diseases. However, that does not mean we resort to such extreme, shortsighted and violent measures.
To understand this class of diseases better, let’s hear from Dr. Shrikrishna Isloor, Associate Professor & Laboratory Director at OIE Twinned KVAFSU-CVA Rabies Diagnostic Lab. He explores the numerous myths surrounding COVID-19 and its transmission from animals while giving us a better understanding of the different facets involved in understanding Zoonotic diseases.
[…] transmitted from animals and whether the spread can be prevented or contained. In this context, the various discussions around zoonotic diseases become increasingly […]