This NebGuide describes human health risks and symptoms associated with prominent diseases of Nebraska's wildlife. Listed are precautions for minimizing exposure and preventing infection. Wild animals and domestic animals share some disease-causing organisms and either group can transmit diseases to people. Transmission can occur directly through contact with tissues or body fluids of animals.
Indirect transmission can occur through insects, ticks and mites that feed on infected animals.
Analyzing Your Risk Everyone should be aware of zoonoses and take appropriate precautions. Often, the perceived risks of the most notorious zoonoses are much greater than the actual risks. For example, rabies is a widely known and feared deadly disease but it causes only about two deaths in the U.S. each year. Generally, risks of human exposure from zoonoses depend on the time of year and frequency of exposure to animal habitats. Risks are greater among hunters, campers, biologists and veterinarians than among other groups.