Table of Contents
Have you ever heard about Zoonoses? World Zoonoses Day is observed around the world on 6th July. For those who are not familiar with the term, Zoonoses or Zoonosis is a disease that is infectious and caused by a pathogen. The disease can spread from an infectious agent like Bacteria, parasites and viruses etc. It can spread from vertebrate animals to humans or vice versa. Salmonellosis and Ebola are Zoonoses that rapidly spread in the early stages of the 20th century. It can spread through direct contact with vertebrates, vector-borne or food borne contact. When Louis Pasture was successful in finding a vaccine against Rabies Virus, a zoonotic disease, World Zoonoses Day is observed to commemorate his success. Read below to know more about World Zoonoses Day 2025 theme and other information.
World Zoonoses Day Date 2025: July
In this article readers can get a glimpse on
- History and Significance of World Zoonoses Day
- List of Zoonotic Diseases
- World Zoonoses Day Theme 2025
- World Zoonoses Day Quiz
History and Significance of Zoonoses Day
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
The word Zoonoses is of Greek origin. ‘Zoon’ means animal and ‘Noses’ means sickness. Humans have a very long history with animals. Be it for hunting or keep them as pets. In the earlier periods, the spread of diseases of epidemics was not so frequent. But in the recent times, population explosion and easy reach of people has paved a way for diseases and epidemics to spread in a faster pace. Most of the modern diseases began as zoonotic diseases, for example – measles, small pox and influenza etc. On 6th July, World Zoonoses Day is observed all over the world since 1885. The main motive of this day is to raise awareness of the risks of Zoonotic diseases.
The zoonotic diseases spread very rapidly. That is the main reason why awareness is needed to be spread. People need to know the history and causes of the disease to be aware of its dangers. Humans come in contact with cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, dogs etc. in their routine life. People or the veterinary professionals are often unaware of the infections the animal could be carrying. People need to educate themselves of the safety measures one has to undertake in such situations.
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!List of Zoonotic Diseases
|
Disease |
Pathogen | Animals Involved | Mode of Transmission |
| African sleeping sickness | Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense | Range of wild animals and domestic livestock |
Bite of the tsetse fly |
|
Angiostrongyliasis |
Angiostrongylus cantonensis,
Angiostrongylus costaricensis |
rats, cotton rats | Eating raw or under cooked snails, |
|
Anisakiasis |
Anisakis | marine animals |
undercooked fish squid contaminated with eggs |
| Anthrax | Bacillus anthracis | cattle,
sheep, goats, camels |
inhalation or skin contact of spores |
|
Babesiosis |
Babesia spp. | mice, other animals | tick bite |
| Baylisascariasis | Baylisascaris procyonis | raccoons |
ingestion of eggs in feces |
|
Barmah Forest fever |
Barmah Forest virus | kangaroos, wallabies, opossums | mosquito bite |
| Bird flu | Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 | wild birds |
close contact |
|
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
Prions | cattle | eating infected meat |
| Brucellosis | Brucella spp. | cattle,
goats, pigs, sheep |
Consuming infected meat |
|
Bubonic plague, Pneumonic plague, Septicemic plague, Sylvatic plague |
Yersinia pestis | Rabbits
rodents, ferrets, |
flea bite |
|
Capillariasis |
Capillaria spp. | rodents,
birds |
eating raw or undercooked fish |
| Cat-scratch disease | Bartonella henselae | cats | bites or scratches from infected cats |
| Chagas disease | Trypanosoma cruzi | armadillos, |
Contact of mucosae |
|
Clamydiosis / Enzootic abortion |
Chlamydophila abortus | sheep | contact with postpartum ewes |
|
COVID-19 |
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | suspected – bats,
felines |
respiratory transmission |
|
Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease |
PrPvCJD | cattle | Eating meat with Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) |
| Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever | Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus | cattle,
goats, sheep, birds |
tick bite, contact with bodily fluids |
|
Cryptococcosis |
Cryptococcus neoformans | pigeons | inhaling fungi |
| Cryptosporidiosis | Cryptosporidium spp. | deer,
sheep, goats, rabbits,
|
ingesting cysts from water contaminated with excretion |
|
Cysticercosis and taeniasis |
Taenia solium, Taenia asiatica, Taenia saginata | commonly – pigs and cattle | food contaminated with the tapeworm eggs |
| Dirofilariasis | Dirofilaria spp. | dogs,
wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals |
mosquito bite |
| Eastern equine encephalitis, | Eastern equine encephalitis virus, | horses,
donkeys, zebras, birds |
mosquito bite |
| Ebola virus disease | Ebola virus spp. | chimpanzees,
gorillas, orangutans |
through body fluids and organs |
| Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Dengue fever | Varies – commonly viruses | camels,
rabbits, hares,
|
infection takes place with direct contact of infected animals |
| Echinococcosis | Echinococcus spp. |
jackals, wolves, pigs, rodents |
infective eggs from contaminated food |
| Fasciolosis | Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica | sheep,
cattle, buffaloes |
ingesting contaminated plants |
| Foodborne illnesses | Campylobacter spp. | cattle,
poultry |
raw or undercooked food |
| Giardiasis | Giardia lamblia | raccoons,
sheep, dogs, cats |
ingesting spores and cysts in food |
| Glanders | Burkholderia mallei. | horses, donkeys | direct contact |
| Gnathostomiasis | Gnathostoma spp. | cats,
lions
|
raw or undercooked fish or meat |
| Hantavirus | Hantavirus spp. | deer mice,
cotton rats |
exposure to feces, urine, saliva |
| Henipavirus | Henipavirus spp. | horses, bats | exposure to feces, urine |
| Histoplasmosis | Histoplasma capsulatum | birds,
bats |
inhaling fungi in guano |
| HIV | SIV Simian immunodeficiency virus | Non-human primates | Blood |
| Japanese encephalitis | Japanese encephalitis virus | pigs,
water birds |
mosquito bite |
| Kyasanur Forest disease | Kyasanur Forest disease virus | rodents,
shrews, bats, monkeys |
tick bite |
| La Crosse encephalitis | La Crosse virus | chipmunks,
tree squirrels |
mosquito bite |
| Leishmaniasis | Leishmania spp. | dogs,
rodents |
sand fly bite |
| Leprosy | Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium lepromatosis | armadillos,
monkeys |
Uncooked meat consumption. |
| Leptospirosis | Leptospira interrogans | raccoons,
dogs |
contact with urine of infected animals |
| Lassa fever | Lassa fever virus | rodents | exposure to rodents |
| Lyme disease | Borrelia burgdorferi | deer,
wolves, rabbits, hares |
tick bite |
| Lymphocytic choriomeningitis | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus | rodents | exposure to urine, feces, or saliva |
| Melioidosis | Burkholderia pseudomallei | various animals | Touching contaminated soil |
| Microsporidiosis | Encephalitozoon cuniculi | Rabbits, dogs, other mammals | ingestion of spores |
| Middle East respiratory syndrome | MERS coronavirus | bats, camels | close contact |
| Monkeypox | Monkeypox virus | rodents, primates | contact with infected rodents, |
| Nipah virus infection | Nipah virus (NiV) | bats, pigs | contact with infected bats, infected pigs |
| Orf | Orf virus | goats, sheep | close contact |
| Psittacosis | Chlamydophila psittaci | bird species | contact with bird droplets |
| Q fever | Coxiella burnetii | dogs and cats | inhalation of spores |
| Rabies | Rabies virus | foxes,
skunks, |
through saliva by biting, or through scratches from an infected animal |
| Rat-bite fever | Streptobacillus moniliformis, Spirillum minus | rats, mice |
bites of rats urine and mucus secretions |
| Rift Valley fever | Phlebovirus | livestock,
buffaloes, camels |
mosquito bite, breathing around butchered animals |
| Rocky Mountain spotted fever | Rickettsia rickettsii | dogs, rodents | tick bite |
| Ross River fever | Ross River virus | kangaroos,
birds, |
mosquito bite |
| Saint Louis encephalitis | Saint Louis encephalitis virus | birds | mosquito bite |
| Severe acute respiratory syndrome | SARS coronavirus | bats, civets | close contact, respiratory droplets |
| Smallpox | Variola virus | Possible Monkeys or horses | Spreads from person to person quickly |
| Swine influenza | A new strain of the influenza virus in pigs | pigs | close contact |
| Taenia crassiceps infection | Taenia crassiceps | Wolves
jackals |
contact with soil contaminated with feces |
| Toxocariasis | Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati | dogs, foxes, cats | fresh or unwashed vegetables undercooked meat |
| Toxoplasmosis | Toxoplasma gondii | cats,
livestock, poultry |
exposure to cat feces, organ transplantation, blood transfusion, contaminated soil, |
| Trichinosis | Trichinella spp. | pigs,
horses, walruses, dogs |
consuming undercooked meat |
| Tuberculosis | Mycobacterium bovis | infected cattle,
deer, llamas, pigs |
milk, exhaled air, sputum, urine |
| Tularemia | Francisella tularensis | lagomorphs
birds |
ticks, deer flies, mosquitoes |
| West Nile fever | Flavivirus | birds,
horses |
mosquito bite |
| Zika fever | Zika virus | chimpanzees,
gorillas, orangutans,
|
mosquito bite, sexual intercourse, |
World Zoonoses Day Theme 2025
As of now, 2025, the official theme for World Zoonoses Day 2025, observed annually on July 6th, has not yet been announced. This day commemorates the significant achievement of Louis Pasteur, who, on July 6, 1885, successfully administered the first rabies vaccine.
World Zoonoses Day serves as a crucial occasion to raise global awareness about zoonotic diseases – illnesses that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Each year, a specific theme is typically chosen to highlight a particular aspect of these diseases, encouraging discussions, educational campaigns, and collaborative efforts under the “One Health” approach. This approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in preventing and controlling such diseases.
World Zoonoses Day Previous Themes
World Zoonoses Day, observed annually on July 6, commemorates the work of French biologist Louis Pasteur, who successfully administered the first rabies vaccine on July 6, 1885. The day aims to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases – infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans – and to promote a “One Health” approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Here are the themes and primary focuses from recent years, as highlighted by various public health and veterinary organizations:
- 2015: Focus on preventing zoonotic diseases and improving public health.
- 2016: General focus on raising awareness about the threat of zoonotic diseases.
- 2017: “Towards a healthier life” (This theme was adopted by various organizations celebrating the day to educate and create public awareness).
- 2018: The broad emphasis was on the importance of understanding and preventing diseases transmitted between animals and humans.
- 2019: “Diseases that spread from animals to people” (often used as a descriptive focus).
- 2020: “Preventing the Next Pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission” (This theme was particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic).
- 2021: “Let’s break the chain of zoonotic transmission.”
- 2022: “Zoonotic diseases: One Health, One Future.” (This reflects the growing emphasis on the One Health approach).
- 2023: “One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses, Stop the Spread” / “One Health: Preventing Zoonoses Together” (Variations of this theme were widely used, emphasizing collaborative efforts).
- 2024: “One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses” / “Preventing the Spread of Zoonotic Diseases.” (Both themes are commonly cited for 2024, reflecting the core message).
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!World Zoonoses Day Quotes
- Michael G Cordingley quoted “The accelerating pace of zoonotic transmission of novel viruses into humans is attributable to anthropogenic epidemiologic factors. Only behavior modification or medical management of this future health burden will minimize the risks of future zoonoses for human populations.”
- Manage food properly by cooking it well and then storing it safely to avoid zoonotic diseases.
World Zoonoses Day Quiz 2025
A) Alexander Fleming
B) Edward Jenner
C) Louis Pasteur
3. Which animal is the primary source of human rabies infections globally?
A) Bats
B) Dogs
C) Cats
B) International Monetary Fund
C) United Nations Development Programme
5. Which of the following is a common bacterial zoonotic disease?
A) Malaria
B) Brucellosis
C) Diabetes
A) SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
B) Hepatitis B
C) Chickenpox
A) Around 50
B) More than 200
C) Less than 20
A) Ringworm
B) Tuberculosis
C) Typhoid
A) Leptospirosis
B) Influenza
C) Measles
Want More Engaging Questions?
Download our FREE PDF packed with insightful quiz questions to test your knowledge!
🔽 Click below to get your free copy now! 🔽
World Zoonoses Day Quiz 2025 PDF
World Zoonoses Day serves as an important reminder of the ongoing threat posed by diseases that pass from animals to humans. This day highlights the significance of controlling zoonotic diseases through public awareness, timely vaccination, and strict hygiene practices. It also acknowledges the historic achievement of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first successful rabies vaccine, marking a major milestone in the fight against such diseases. Governments, health organizations, and individuals are encouraged to work together to prevent outbreaks and reduce risks of transmission.
By observing World Zoonoses Day, communities can better understand the connection between human health, animal health, and the environment. The day promotes the importance of the “One Health” approach, emphasizing collaboration across medical, veterinary, and environmental sectors. Preventive measures like pet vaccinations, safe handling of animals, and proper sanitation can help control the spread of zoonotic diseases. Public education programs also play a key role in minimizing exposure and improving disease detection. Ultimately, raising awareness on this day helps protect both humans and animals worldwide.
Free UPSKILLING Courses!
Take your first step toward mastering in-demand skills, acing interviews, and securing top-tier jobs with Entri's free upskilling courses.
Start Learning!Frequently Asked Questions
What is World Zoonoses Day and why is it observed?
World Zoonoses Day is observed every year on July 6. It commemorates Louis Pasteur’s first successful rabies vaccination in 1885. The day raises awareness about diseases that spread from animals to humans. It aims to promote preventive measures and public education about zoonotic risks. Health organizations worldwide conduct campaigns to mark this day.
What are zoonotic diseases?
Zoonotic diseases are infections that spread between animals and humans. They can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi. Examples include rabies, leptospirosis, and bird flu. These diseases can spread through direct contact, bites, or contaminated food and water. Controlling them requires both human and animal health efforts.
Why is rabies highlighted on World Zoonoses Day?
Rabies is one of the most well-known zoonotic diseases. Louis Pasteur developed the first rabies vaccine, leading to this day’s observance. Rabies remains a public health concern in many countries today. The day emphasizes prevention through vaccination and responsible pet care. Awareness campaigns often focus on rabies control programs.
How do zoonotic diseases spread from animals to humans?
Zoonotic diseases spread through various routes. These include direct contact with infected animals, bites, scratches, or contact with contaminated surfaces. Transmission can also occur through insect vectors like mosquitoes or ticks. Consuming contaminated food or water is another cause. Preventive hygiene and vaccinations reduce the risk.
What role does the World Health Organization (WHO) play in preventing zoonoses?
WHO coordinates international efforts to control zoonotic diseases. It works with countries to strengthen surveillance and response systems. WHO promotes the “One Health” approach, encouraging collaboration between human and animal health sectors. The organization provides guidelines for disease control and prevention. It also runs global awareness campaigns.
What are some common examples of zoonotic diseases besides rabies?
Other common zoonotic diseases include leptospirosis, brucellosis, and avian influenza. Some bacterial diseases like anthrax and salmonellosis also fall under this category. Viral infections such as Ebola and SARS-CoV-2 are major zoonotic threats. Fungal diseases like ringworm can also spread from animals. Each disease requires specific control measures.
How can individuals help prevent zoonotic diseases?
Individuals can prevent zoonotic diseases by practicing good hygiene around animals. Vaccinating pets against rabies is essential. Avoiding contact with stray animals reduces risk. Wearing protective gear when handling animals or cleaning animal areas is advised. Properly cooking meat and ensuring clean drinking water also helps.
What is the "One Health" approach?
The “One Health” approach promotes collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors. It recognizes that human health is closely linked to animal and ecosystem health. This approach helps in early detection and control of zoonotic diseases. Many organizations, including WHO, support this framework. It plays a key role in preventing future outbreaks.
Are zoonotic diseases more common in certain regions?
Zoonotic diseases are more prevalent in regions with close human-animal interactions. Rural and farming communities often face higher risks. Areas with poor sanitation and limited veterinary care also report more cases. Tropical regions face additional threats due to insect vectors. Public health programs target these high-risk areas.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic increased awareness about zoonoses?
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the global threat posed by zoonotic diseases. It showed how animal-origin viruses can cause widespread human outbreaks. The pandemic increased focus on the need for better surveillance and control systems. Many countries are now improving their zoonotic disease prevention programs. Research on animal-to-human disease transmission has also gained more attention.
