Zoonotic
Adjective
UK
/ˌzuː.əˈnɒt.ɪk/
US
/ˌzuː.oʊˈnɑː.tɪk/
Definition
Describing a disease that spreads from animals to humans.
Example
"Rabies is a zoonotic disease."
"Washing hands after touching animals helps prevent zoonotic diseases."
"Doctors and scientists study zoonotic illnesses to stop them from spreading to people."
Explanation
Zoonotic describes a disease that can pass from animals to people. For example, Rabies is a zoonotic disease because it can pass from dogs to people. Scientists study zoonotic diseases to keep both animals and humans safe. These diseases often spread through bites, insects, or touching infected animals. Taking care of animals and staying clean and healthy helps prevent zoonotic infections.