Zoonotic Diseases

Before diving into this week's topic, I want to remind you of my mission—my purpose for creating The Human Condition. My goal is to educate and inspire a movement driven by and for the "ordinary" people of the world to enact meaningful changes to improve human health and prevent further damage to our planet before it's too late.

I will continue to present these facts in the context of human development since the last ice age…spanning from a time before the advent of agriculture to the present day (roughly 12,000 years). This long trajectory of change has brought us to a critical point where human progress now threatens both our health and the wellbeing of the planet…our home.

We need to correct our path, and I believe this is the time to act. A few weeks ago, I discussed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s involvement in health policy during Donald Trump’s administration. When he was appointed to lead a vaccine safety commission in 2017, this stirred widespread debate. Regardless of whether Kennedy’s positions on vaccinations and fluoride have merit, these topics are controversial, but one thing is indisputable: we must take immediate steps to improve our diet—a goal strongly supported by extensive scientific research and leading voices in healthcare.

What many people don’t realize is how dangerous it can be for anyone who attempts to tackle these issues. This is NOT just about our health—it’s about MONEY. Addressing these problems means challenging industries that stand to lose trillions of dollars in profits.

I believe the only power on earth capable of driving such monumental change is the power of the people. When we unite and raise our voices as one, we can DEMAND the change that’s desperately needed.

I encourage you to watch the following video by Dr. Eric Berg. As you listen to his insights, you’ll be reminded of the hidden truths I’ve shared with you in past newsletters. Watch it!…it’s only 8 minutes.

Here’s My 2 Cents: "Making America Healthy Again" (click to view)

Zoonotic Diseases

A zoonotic disease is any illness or infection that can naturally spread between animals (wild or domestic) and humans. These diseases are caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, and prions. Since the term prion might be unfamiliar to some, here's a brief explanation: a prion is a misfolded, transmissible protein that causes fatal neurodegenerative diseases in both animals and humans. Notable examples include mad cow disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE), chronic wasting disease (CWD), and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, currently, these prion diseases are not classified as zoonotic. Nevertheless, diseases like CWD have the potential to jump to humans in the future…

This is especially important during this time of year, as deer hunting season is still active in many states. Hunters should look for deer, moose, and elk that appear sick or exhibit unusual behavior. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) can be fatal to affected animals, so extra caution is necessary. If you encounter a dead animal without obvious signs of injury, such as gunshot wounds or arrow marks, exercise extreme caution. Under no circumstances should the meat be consumed. Instead, follow these steps:

• Report it immediately: Contact your nearest state wildlife agency officer or employee.

• Document the location: Provide the exact location where the animal was found.

• Do not disturb the animal: Avoid touching, killing, or removing the animal in any way.

Today, the New York Times featured an article on the avian flu. The recent headlines about bird flu, or H5N1, may raise questions about its potential threat. While some past viruses, like MERS and Zika, had limited impact in the U.S., others, like COVID-19, caused significant disruption. Here's an overview of bird flu and its current status:

What is bird flu?

H5N1 is an influenza virus that has been circulating for decades. It gained attention in the late 1990s after an outbreak in southern China, where it infected humans for the first time, resulting in 18 cases and six deaths.

Why the recent concerns?

The virus has expanded geographically and across species. It is no longer confined to Asia, spreading globally, and now infects a broader range of animals, including mammals like dairy cows in the U.S.

…and now there is news that it is spreading among dairy cows… As of December 3, 2024, the virus has been confirmed in dairy cattle in 15 states. The virus has been found in 475 herds in California, 64 in Colorado, 35 in Idaho, and many other states. Outbreaks of H5N1 continue to rise in dairy cattle and poultry, as well as in other wild and domesticated animals, including the first confirmed infection in a pig. Human cases also continue to occur, primarily—but not exclusively—in people who had exposure to infected animals. Read the article below published Dec 6, 2024, in Newsweek.

USDA Orders Testing of Nation's Milk Supply for Bird Flu (click to view)

The evolving nature of H5N1 underscores the need for continued vigilance and understanding. Remember, animals can carry the virus and transmit it to other animals or humans, and not be affected…

Transmission Pathways:

•  Direct contact with infected animals (e.g., bites, scratches, or handling).

• Indirect contact through contaminated environments (e.g., animal feces, saliva, or urine).

•  Consumption of contaminated food or water (e.g., undercooked meat or unpasteurized milk).

•  Vector-borne transmission (e.g., through insects like ticks, mosquitoes, or fleas).

• Aerosols or respiratory droplets (e.g., inhaling viral particles from infected animals).

Most concerning, at least four people have tested positive without evidently having had contact with a sick animal. One of them is a teenager in British Columbia who has been in critical condition. These infections raise the possibility that the virus can move from one human being to another, rather than only from an animal to a person. Human-to-human transmission can lead to much more rapid spread of a disease.

“I’m more worried about bird flu than I have been for a really long time,” Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, told me.

What are the reasons to be hopeful?

There are a few. First, it’s not yet clear whether those four recent cases stemmed from human-to-human transmission. Even if they did, such transmission might remain rare, involving extremely high levels of exposure to the virus. “Right now, H5N1 does not spread easily between people,” said Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Very few people known to be infected with bird flu in the United States have become seriously ill, and none have died. Still, it is a fact that viruses evolve, often in ways that lead to more infections. And the upcoming winter could give bird flu more opportunities to mix with seasonal flu and mutate. If bird flu were to spread widely, even a low fatality rate could mean tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S.

Is there a vaccine for H5N1?

A vaccine for bird flu exists, but the supply is modest. Many believe the government should help expand production and make the vaccine available to farmworkers who want to receive it. More research on the vaccines also seems important, especially if the virus is evolving. Recall the evolution of COVID-19…

The bottom line

A Johns Hopkins epidemiologist, recently published a book on preventing outbreaks called “Crisis Averted.” In it, she argues that one of the most effective public health strategies is honesty: Experts should level with people, rather than telling selective truths intended to shape behavior in kindly ways.

Examples of Zoonotic Diseases

Viral Zoonoses

• COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): Thought to have originated in bats, potentially involving intermediate hosts.

• Rabies: Transmitted through bites from infected mammals, such as dogs or bats.

• Ebola: Associated with fruit bats and great apes, spread through contact with bodily fluids.

• Avian Influenza: Transmitted from birds to humans, often in close-contact environments.

Bacterial Zoonoses

• Salmonella: Spread through contaminated food or direct contact with reptiles and poultry.

• Leptospirosis: Transmitted through water contaminated by the urine of infected animals.

• Lyme Disease: Caused by ticks that feed on infected wildlife, such as deer or rodents.

• Plague: Caused by Yersinia pestis, transmitted by fleas from infected rodents.

Parasitic Zoonoses

• Toxoplasmosis: Caused by a parasite found in cat feces or undercooked meat.

• Trichinosis: Acquired by eating undercooked meat from infected animals.

Fungal Zoonoses

Ringworm: A contagious fungal infection spread from animals like cats, dogs, or cattle to humans.

How can we Control Zoonotic Disease?

When you examine the causes of zoonotic diseases, it becomes clear that they arise primarily due to human activities that alter the environment. This underscores the undeniable connection between human health and the health of our planet.

This reality highlights the urgent need for humanity to unite and take meaningful action. We cannot bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich, pretending the problem will disappear on its own. It won’t.

What we often fail to recognize is that money is the greatest barrier to meaningful change. Making these changes threatens trillions of dollars in profits…just as changing our diet to reduce chronic disease would. The food industry prioritizes profit over what’s best for human health, as long as their bottom line keeps growing they will continue in the same way…

Whatever changes are made will take time, often decades, to yield visible results. But we have to start somewhere. To ensure these changes become permanent, we must remain vigilant and unwavering in our resolve.

Adopting the “One Health Approach” is an excellent first step—a framework that acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

What is the One Health Approach?  (click to view)

Key aspects of the “One Health” approach for controlling zoonotic diseases

• Multidisciplinary collaboration:

Bringing together experts from human medicine, veterinary medicine, environmental science, and public health to share information and work together on disease prevention and response. 

• Integrated surveillance systems:

Developing comprehensive monitoring systems to track zoonotic diseases in both animals and humans, allowing for early detection of outbreaks. 

• Risk assessment and prioritization:

Identifying high-risk zoonotic diseases based on factors like pathogen characteristics, animal populations, and human exposure. 

• Targeted interventions:

Implementing preventive measures tailored to specific zoonotic diseases, including vaccination programs for animals, improved sanitation practices, and public health education campaigns. 

Emerging technologies that can enhance One Health approaches:

• Advanced diagnostics:

Rapid and accurate diagnostic tools for zoonotic diseases, enabling faster identification and response to outbreaks. 

• Genomic sequencing:

Using genetic analysis to understand pathogen evolution and transmission patterns, aiding in targeted interventions. 

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning:

Analyzing large datasets to predict disease outbreaks and identify high-risk areas. 

• About One Health – CDC

I hope you have learned some important facts about “zoonotic” diseases. Although this category may be unfamiliar, the names of the diseases are not. Perhaps you didn’t know their origin. Were you aware that COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) began in the bat population…which resulted from the impact of human activity?

It is unlikely that human activity on the planet will stop anytime soon. Therefore, it is essential that we develop a new way to deal with new problems as they arise. I hope you watched the video “What is the One Health Approach”. It is only 3 ½ minutes long, but very informative. It also re-establishes the need for cooperation of all humans at all levels.

To make this successful, it requires the involvement of everyone. It is not enough to recognize the problem, because that doesn’t fix the problem. If our health and the condition of our planet is important to us, we must take action to make certain that things that we know are ticking time bombs, don’t explode… No matter how small our individual contributions are… Consider this quote: “Ants are a symbol of industry and cooperation. They never stop working, and they are always willing to help each other. They are a reminder that even the smallest creatures can accomplish great things.”

The link below is my latest audio podcast on zoonotic diseases. This should take you immediately to Spotify podcasts for creators. All you need to do is click below.

When the page loads just click the the green play arrow to listen to this 10-minute presentation. When finished, close the tab at the top of the page to return to this document. Don’t forget to check “Follow”, and share this link with friends and family…We’re all in this together!

Visit Perpetua Life

Until next time take care and stay POSITIVE…Dr.G

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