Browsing: zoonotic

The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to tackle Q fever bacteria from imported goats. To protect public health, DOH is rolling out an assessment of risks to human health status. Q fever, attributed to the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, is a disease found in animals that can be transmitted to humans. This collaboration highlights the critical need for joint efforts in managing diseases that affect both humans and animals.

In a stunning medical first, an Australian woman complaining of forgetfulness and depression was found to have a live 8-centimetre roundworm in her brain. Usually found in pythons, the discovery has put the international medical community on high alert, prompting an intensive review of zoonotic diseases — illnesses transferred from animals to humans.