If you get bitten or scratched, clean the wound and contact your doctor. Humans also can get sick because of parasites carried by pets. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease are spread by ticks, which can attach themselves to pets. Pets don't spread these diseases to humans, but if a pet gets infected, that means disease-carrying ticks could be present. Other pests like fleas and mites can cause problems for humans.
Outdoor pets are most at risk, and flea and tick treatments for pets also keep humans healthy.
Intestinal parasites, such as tapeworm, carried by pets can be transmitted to humans through contact with pet feces. Children who play outdoors barefoot in areas contaminated by pet feces risk picking up worms. Tell your children to wear shoes outdoors. One very serious health risk from pets is toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection caused by contact with cat feces. This infection can cause miscarriage in pregnant women, or it can be transmitted to the fetus.