WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A new report indicates there is little public policy for dealing with animal-borne diseases despite a surge in such illnesses.
The Trust for America's Health report examined the public health response to five animal-borne diseases: monkeypox, West Nile, mad cow, Lyme and chronic wasting.
The study found factors like increased human and animal contact, altered animal and bird migration routes, a thriving exotic pet trade,and high-speed inter-continental travel have all been contributing to the rise in these disease.
The study found as many as seven cabinet-level agencies and hundreds of state and local public health organizations playing crucial roles in containing outbreaks of animal-borne diseases.
The study calls for policy changes to better prepare the United States against animal-borne diseases. This includes recommending Congress hold hearings to examine the best way to build an effective national approach to ensure the public health response to animal-borne diseases is unified, coherent and proactive.
