No, it's not what you find on the faces of elephants and kiwis. Until recently, zoonotic diseases touched few lives in this country. Unfortunatly, with the AIDS epidemic, the situation changed. Suddenly, we had a tremendous increase in the number of people with suppressed immune systems, a conditon which made them nore susceptible to all kinds of diseases, including the zoonoses. People need to know about the risks of catching diseases from their pets.
Current evidence supports the fact that pets pose a minimal risk.
Initially there was considerable confusion in the medical community about the wisest course of action for the immunosuppressed pet owner. The aim of this organization and those like it is to eliminate that confusion. We will update regularly as new information becomes available. If you are immunosuppressed and either have a pet or want to get one, you should carefully review these recommendations with your physician and your veterinarian. Especially before eating of smoking.