Study shows pets can transmit diseases to people

Pets are a beloved part of millions of families, and they can do wonders for a person’s physical and emotional health. Some animals encourage their owners to get more exercise with regular walks. They can teach young children to value and care for a living creature. And they are simply a pleasure to curl up with at the end of a long, stressful day.

Nearly half of all American households have some type of pet, but many pet owners are unaware that animals come with some level of risk for spreading bacterial and parasitic infections. Most healthy people won’t pick up bacteria or pathogens from contact with a pet. However, young children, pregnant women, seniors and people with a weakened immune system — including those undergoing treatment for cancer — are typically much more vulnerable.

With pets there’s the potential for exposure to parasites such hookworms, roundworms and toxoplasma, a parasite sometimes spread through contact with a cat’s litter box that can be especially hazardous to pregnant women and their fetuses.

People can acquire pet-associated infections through animal bites, scratches and other contact, as well as by accidentally ingesting or inhaling traces of animal feces. Thankfully, there are precautions one can take to reduce the risk for infections.

Here are some ways pet owners and their families can reduce their risk for transmission of infections:

• Frequently clean aquariums, cages and pet bedding but always do so while wearing protective gloves.
• Wash hands thoroughly after contact with a pet.
• Avoid contact with exotic animals.
• Keep litter boxes in places away from where food is prepared and eaten.
• Take your pet to the veterinarian for regular check-ups.
• Talk with your family physician or veterinarian to determine which type of pet may be safest for your family, especially if you have young children, seniors or someone who is ill.

Some dog owners may be worried about a recent outbreak of dog flu that has sickened hundreds of pets, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that virus does not pose a threat to humans. Canine influenza can spread from dog to dog, but there have been no known cases of people getting sick from it.

To read the full story from CBS News, click here.