Zoonoses Day

Why Seafood Consumers Should Care About Animal-to-Human Diseases

Every year on July 6, World Zoonoses Day marks a crucial moment to raise awareness about diseases that can pass between animals and humans—zoonoses. This date commemorates Louis Pasteur’s first successful rabies vaccination in 1885, a milestone that changed the course of public health. For seafood consumers, understanding zoonotic risks is essential for safe, healthy enjoyment of our oceans’ bounty.

What Are Zoonoses and Why Do They Matter?

Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. They include well-known threats like rabies, avian influenza, and, more recently, COVID-19. According to the World Health Organization, around 60% of all human infectious diseases originate from animals, and up to 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin.

For seafood lovers, zoonoses are not just a distant concern—they can be linked to the way we catch, handle, prepare, and consume fish and shellfish.

Seafood and Zoonotic Disease: What’s the Risk?

    While the risk of acquiring zoonotic diseases from seafood is generally low, the main threats come from:

  • Eating raw or undercooked seafood: Many fish-borne zoonoses are caused by bacteria (Vibrio, Listeria, Salmonella), parasites (tapeworms, flukes, roundworms like Anisakis), and viruses. These can cause gastrointestinal illness or, in rare cases, more severe disease.

  • Handling fish and shellfish: Fishermen, processors, and even home cooks can be exposed to bacteria like Mycobacterium marinum or Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae through cuts or wounds, leading to skin infections or, rarely, more serious illness. If filleting fish you need to be careful of any sharp fins or spines – these can sometime be painful and dangerous if not handled well.

  • Environmental exposure: Contaminated water can harbor pathogens that affect both aquatic life and humans, especially if hygiene and food safety practices are not followed.

Prevention: How Seafood Consumers Can Stay Safe

    The good news: most seafood-related zoonoses are preventable with simple, practical steps:

  • Cook seafood thoroughly: Heat kills most bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Avoid eating raw or undercooked fish and shellfish unless you are confident in its safety.

  • Practice good kitchen hygiene: Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces after handling raw seafood. Keep raw and cooked foods separate to avoid cross-contamination.

  • Buy from reputable sources: Choose seafood from suppliers who follow strict food safety standards and undertake regular pathogen monitoring.

  • Protect cuts and wounds: If you handle raw fish, especially if you have cuts or abrasions, wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after contact.

  • Stay informed: Be aware of current advisories about seafood safety, especially during outbreaks or in regions with known risks.

Why World Zoonoses Day Matters for the Seafood Community?

This year’s theme, "One World, One Health: Prevent Zoonoses," highlights the need for collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors. For the seafood industry and consumers, this means supporting sustainable practices, robust food safety systems, and public education to reduce risks at every stage—from ocean to plate.

World Zoonoses Day is a reminder that enjoying seafood safely is a shared responsibility. By staying informed and following best practices, seafood consumers can help prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases—protecting not just themselves, but our communities and the health of our oceans.

Stay safe, stay informed, and enjoy your seafood with confidence!

#WorldZoonosesDay #OneHealth #SeafoodSafety #SCA