Which term describes diseases that can spread from animals to humans?

• A. Foodborne illness
• B. Chronic diseases
• C. Antibiotic-resistant infections
• D. Zoonotic diseases

Answer: (D)

Zoonotic diseases are illnesses that can move from animals to people. This category includes infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that have animal hosts and can be transmitted through direct contact with animals, bites, handling or consuming animal products, or via vectors like ticks and mosquitoes, as well as through contaminated environments. The important idea is crossing species barriers—from animals to humans—which makes this term a precise description for these kinds of diseases. Examples include rabies from animal bites, avian influenza from birds, and other pathogens that jump from animals to humans.

Foodborne illness centers on illness caused by consuming contaminated food, which is a different concept. Chronic diseases are long-term non-communicable conditions that are not typically spread between people and animals. Antibiotic-resistant infections refer to infections caused by bacteria that resist treatment, a property about the organism rather than how the disease moves between hosts.