Zoonosis Control

The Zoonosis Control Branch (ZCB) promotes public health through the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases transmitted to humans from animal reservoirs.  Zoonotic diseases encompass many of the most dangerous disease threats to humans and, worldwide, make up approximately two-thirds of emerging diseases.  A majority of the Category ABC bioterrorism agents are also zoonotic pathogens.  Zoonoses present in Texas include anthrax, hantavirus, Lyme disease, plague, rabies, tularemia, West Nile virus, and many others.

Diseases
A to Z listing of zoonoses (diseases transmissible from animals to humans) in Texas.

• Human Zoonotic Disease Data
  Annual case totals of zoonotic diseases from 2000 to the current year.
• Forms
  Case investigation forms for zoonotic diseases.
• Chagas Disease
  Information, statistics, testing guidance for medical professionals, triatomine bug submission and testing, and links to educational materials in English and Spanish.
• Flea-borne Typhus
  Information and statistics about typhus in Texas.
• Mosquito-borne disease
  Information on diseases transmitted by mosquitoes such as chikungunya, dengue, West Nile, and Zika viruses, as well as malaria.
• Rabies
  Rabies topics including vaccination, history, protocols, and the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program.
• Tick-borne Diseases
  Information about diseases transmitted by ticks such as ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, spotted fever group rickettsioses (including Rocky Mountain spotted fever), and tick-borne relapsing fever, as well as tick submission and testing.

Education and Awareness
Educational programs and training available through the Zoonosis Control Branch and the Emerging and Acute Infectious Diseases Unit.

• Educational Materials
  Informational documents on various diseases and topics in different formats.
• Diseases in Nature (DIN) Conference
• Outdoor Health and Safety Tips
  Health and safety tips for hunters, campers and hikers.
• Rabies Awareness and Prevention Poster Contest for K-12th Grades.
  “STOP Rabies” Educational Poster for Download

Animal Topics
Various topics related to animals: Animals in Disasters, Animals in Public Settings, Animal Control (including training requirements and availability), Animal Friendly Program, Animal Shelters (including animal euthanasia training requirements and availability), etc.

Laws
Animal Import and Export Requirements; Dangerous Wild Animals; Texas legislation; Texas Administrative Code; etc.

Veterinary Topics
Topics pertinent to veterinary medical professionals and pet owners, including emergency preparedness, continuing education, responsible ownership, regulations (relating to rabies and disease reporting), animal import and export requirements, and health-care facility guidelines.

Regional Zoonosis Control Offices
Contact information for DSHS Regional Zoonosis Control Offices.