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.
Risks can increase within any group when precautions are not taken. Current and accurate information about risk, symptoms, and incidences of disease is available from physicians, veterinarians and medical entomologists. General Precautions Diseased wild animals often show changes in behavior. They sometimes appear docile or react unusually to humans. Rabid wild and domestic dogs can react aggressively.