Dark secret sits behind our animals

BEHIND this furry feline face prowls a dark secret that can make you as sick as a dog.

Cats, cows, canines and chooks are making Toowoomba residents crook.

More than 204 local animalrelated disease notifications were made to the Queensland Department of Health in 2018, with mosquitoes the main offenders, but illnesses related to lizards, snakes, horses, dogs, cats, bovines and other common livestock and pets also took their toll.

There were notifications for brucellosis, leptospirosis, Australian bat lyssavirus, potential rabies exposure, Q fever, Barmah Forest virus, dengue and Ross River virus.

Brucellosis, leptospirosis and Q fever are carried by many common household and farm animals.

Barmah Forest virus, dengue and Ross River virus – the most common animal-related diseases in our region – are spread by mozzies.

Dr Vincent Ho said people with pet reptiles were at high risk of salmonella.

“Pet reptiles carry salmonella and this can be quite an issue for young children,” the University of Western Sydney academic said.

Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service public health physician Dr Penny Hutchinson said prevention was the best protection.

“Notifications of Ross River virus in the Darling Downs region have remained steady for a number of years and we don’t expect that to change this year,” Dr Hutchinson said

“We work closely with local government on monitoring programs, and continue to educate the community through media and social media.”