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Important Tip!

Enjoy watching animals from a safe distance. Touching wild animals may harm you or the animal.

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Diseases from Wildlife

In most of the United States, it is against the law for you to own any wild animals or non-human primates (monkeys) without a permit. However, people sometimes come into contact with these animals. Like other animals, wild animals and primates can get diseases. Some of these diseases, called zoonoses, can cause illness in people. Since wild animals (including monkeys, raccoons, and skunks) can carry diseases that are dangerous to people, CDC discourages direct contact with wildlife.

Learn more about selected diseases of wildlife, including primates.

Baylisascaris Infection (raccoon roundworm): A parasitic disease associated with raccoons.

Brucella Infection (brucellosis): A bacterial disease associated with bison, deer, and other wild animals.

Giardia Infection (giardiasis): A parasitic disease associated with animals and their environment (including water).

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (hantavirus): A rare viral disease associated with some types of wild mice.

Herpesvirus simiae Infection (B virus): A deadly viral disease associated with macaque monkeys.

Click here for the latest recommendations on prevention and therapy of Herpes B. (adobe acrobat PDF 225KB)

Histoplasma Infection (histoplasmosis): A fungal disease associated with bat guano (stool).

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis: A viral disease associated with rodents and house mouse.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection (TB): A bacterial disease associated with deer, elk, and bison.

Plague (Yersinia pestis Infection): A rare bacterial disease associated with wild rodents and fleas.

Rabies: A viral disease associated with wildlife especially raccoons, skunks, and bats.

Tularemia: An infectious disease associated with wildlife especially rodents, rabbits, and hares.

November 4, 2009



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