By Dr Ganean Chetty Oertel — Veterinarian (BVSc)
In an increasingly interconnected world, the health of humans and animals is deeply intertwined. Nowhere is this more evident than in the prevention of zoonotic diseases—those transmitted between animals and people. While emerging pathogens often capture headlines, the most powerful tools we have to prevent everyday transmission are far less dramatic: handwashing, hygiene, and responsible pet care.
Zoonotic infections are not rare anomalies. They are part of daily clinical reality. From dermatophytosis (ringworm) in children to gastrointestinal infections linked to contaminated environments, the interface between people and animals presents both risk and opportunity. The encouraging reality is that most of these infections are preventable with simple, consistent practices.
Handwashing: the first line of defense
Hand hygiene remains the single most effective intervention in reducing disease transmission. Yet, compliance—both in households and clinical settings—remains inconsistent. Contact with animals, their food, bedding, faeces, or environments should always be followed by thorough handwashing with soap and water—particularly before eating or touching the face.
This becomes even more important when considering less obvious exposures: handling raw meat for pet feeding, cleaning up after animals, or gardening in soil that may be contaminated with animal faeces. Alcohol-based sanitisers have their place, but are insufficient when organic matter is present.
Everyday exposures, underestimated risks
For many families, pets are integral members of the household—sharing living spaces, furniture, and close physical contact. While this bond is beneficial, it can also facilitate disease transmission when hygiene is overlooked.
Take Toxoplasmosis, often associated primarily with cat litter. In reality, risk extends beyond litter boxes to handling raw or undercooked meat and contact with contaminated soil—particularly in gardens where cats may defecate. Simple measures such as wearing gloves while gardening and washing hands thoroughly afterward can significantly reduce exposure.
Children, by nature, are at higher risk. Outdoor play, hand-to-mouth behaviour, and close contact with pets increase the likelihood of ingesting infective stages of intestinal parasites such as roundworm (Toxocara spp)and hookworm (Ancyoostoma spp) . Contaminated soil, sandpits, and poorly managed pet waste are common sources. Regular deworming of pets, safe disposal of faeces, and reinforcing hand hygiene after play are key preventative strategies.
Vector-borne zoonoses also deserve attention. In many parts of South Africa, exposure to ticks can result in Tick bite fever, often following contact with animals or time spent in tick-endemic environments. Routine tick control in pets and awareness of tick exposure in patients presenting with febrile illness are simple but important preventative steps.
Protecting the vulnerable
Certain populations are disproportionately affected by zoonotic infections: young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. For these groups, seemingly minor exposures can lead to more severe disease.
Pregnant women, for example, should take precautions not only with cat litter, but also with raw meat and soil exposure due to the risk of Toxoplasmosis. Children should be supervised when interacting with animals and taught basic hygiene habits early. Immunocompromised individuals may require more tailored guidance, including stricter parasite control in pets and avoidance of high-risk exposures.
Importantly, risk mitigation should not translate into unnecessary fear or avoidance of animals. Rather, it should empower safer interaction.
The role of healthcare and veterinary professionals
Preventing zoonotic disease is a shared responsibility. It sits at the intersection of human healthcare, veterinary medicine, and public education—a true embodiment of the One Health approach.
Healthcare providers should routinely ask about animal exposure when assessing infections, while veterinary professionals are positioned to educate pet owners about hygiene, parasite control, and preventative care. Bridging this communication gap remains an underutilised opportunity in disease prevention.
From awareness to action
Despite clear evidence supporting hygiene practices, behaviour change remains a challenge. Public health messaging must move beyond awareness and toward practical, achievable action. Visual reminders, routine reinforcement, and culturally relevant education can all improve adherence.
Ultimately, preventing zoonotic disease does not require advanced technology or complex interventions. It requires consistency in the basics—clean hands, healthy animals, and informed households.
In a world focused on emerging threats, we should not overlook the quiet power of everyday prevention. Hygiene, in its simplest form, remains one of our most effective—and underappreciated—tools.
Because sometimes, the true heroes are the simple habits we practice daily.