Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on October 24, 2006
Journal of Public Health 2007 29(1):70-71; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdl035
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Where do pets fit into human quarantines?
C. Patrick Ryan, Chief Veterinarian
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health & Rabies Control, 500 Building, Suite 105, 7601 East Imperial Highway, Downey, CA 90242 USA.
Address correspondence to C. Patrick Ryan, E-mail: pryan{at}dhs.co.la.ca.us
Currently, there are over 400 viral zoonoses in the world. In addition, there are numerous bacterial zoonoses. Of the emerging diseases, <75% are zoonoses. The potential for household transmission through pets is now being considered in any new disease when information is incomplete regarding potential hosts, and the risk for interspecies transmission is unknown. The possible role of household pets in disease transmission in community-based quarantines has previously been overlooked.
Keywords: emerging diseases, pets, quarantines, zoonoses