Sniffle season has officially arrived. The tissues are out, the tea is brewing, and everywhere you go, someone is sneezing or coughing.
As you're curled up on the couch with your dog and both of you let out a matching achoo, a thought creeps in: Can I catch the flu from my dog? It's a reasonable question, and it's one of many that pop up this time of year when bugs are flying around and we snuggle with our warm furry friends.
So, in honour of flu season, CSIRO zoonotic disease experts Jenn Barr and Professor Glenn Marsh have answered some of the most common questions they're asked.
First thing's first: what are zoonotic diseases and how do they jump from animals to humans?
Jenn explains a zoonotic disease, or zoonosis, is an infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans. These diseases can be caused by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi.
There are four ways diseases can spread from animals to humans:
