Wilderness Medicine – Avoiding the next outbreak

 

Exotic wildernesses infectious although sometimes rare and unusual are not completely random or unpredictable.

Many disease outbreaks are zoonoses in that they are acquired through contact with wild animals, either through direct exposure or via pets or livestock.

Travelers can decrease their chance of exposure through good hygiene and observation of reasonable precautions

 

Zoonoses as diseases maintained in the wild through a number of mechanisms. Understanding this help people recognize their risks.

 

•  Diseases shared with animals through the environment
   This includes examples of spore diseases that may lie dormant and infect both   animals and humans (Blastomycosis such as in the Whiteshell,).
•  Diseases where the wild animal is the main reservoir
   (Rabies in wild foxes and skunks in Manitoba).
•  Diseases transmitted from wild to domestic animals then to people
(Rabies from a wild skunk to household dog,).
•  Diseases maintained in both domesticated and wild animals
  (“cow tuberculosis”).
•  Zoonoses where humans are the main host
  (Tuberculosis).
•  Disease shared by wild and domestic animals
  (Influenza A, Lyme disease and West Nile virus). Humans are one of many animals that may be infected.
•  Disease maintained by domestic animals but occasionally spill into wild animals but are not maintained in those wild animals
  (Cow tuberculosis maintained among cattle but periodically affects other ungulates).

 

Generally infectious agents do affect different species differently but new diseases can be unpredictable.

The SARS scare is one example of zoonoses that emerged quite suddenly and had dramatic consequences for our species.

 

Travelers in the course of their travels may encounter both wild and domestic animals in countries with poor veterinary care.

Campers and backpackers should use protective clothing when appropriate.

Rubber or vinyl gloves should always be used for handling animal feces, tissue, blood or carcasses. .

 

Never let a wild or unknown animal scratch or bit you.

Although obvious this is especially important for exposure to less threatening “small animals” such as bats or mice and includes unknown pets.

 

Avoid animals that are acting abnormally .

Most diseases that affect the nervous system causing erratic behavior are zoonoses. Rabies may cause hostile or friendly behavior in different animals.

 

 

Treat all dead animals with respect and rubber gloves should be worn at all times . Dead animals may provide useful information about disease epidemiology (dead crows are used as sentinel cases for the presence of West Nile virus). Small bodies may be put into plastic bags with care to prevent spill or leakage.

 

Avoid contact with abnormal skin on wild animals .

Contagious rashes may be passed to people.

 

Avoid contact with animals' feces especially those of carnivores .

Parasitic eggs are passed and infective even on cages, equipment or inanimate objects. Many parasites use carnivores as part of their life cycle (intermediate host) and are likely to be very infective so that all surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned if contaminated.

 

Avoid all rodents as they carry a large amount of infectious diseases .

Excretions and secretions and nest materials are all potentially contagious. (Hantavirus)

 

Seek medical advice early.

If exposed to wild animals travelers should consult an expert familiar with that animal in question. Doctors may need help from a veterinarian to guide correct testing.

 

Pet owners protect themselves by immunizing their pets and keeping them healthy. . Pets have their own types of vaccines to keep them healthy. Although unusual, cases of human heartworm have occurred after kissing household cats. The worm, which finds humans a dead end host dies inside the lung but causes a condition identical to a pulmonary embolism

 

Protecting pets from wild animals reduces transmission of disease. Simple barriers will keep them healthy.

 

Remember that humans are another legitimate “animal” sharing the environment and equally susceptible to perturbations in it. Of all the factors affecting wild animals, human activity either direct or indirect has the most influence on wild animal health.