Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Koronavirus - Vloga živali pri razvoju cepiva

lukam — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 07:56:13 +0000

Coronavirus – The Role of Animals in the Development of Vaccines lukam Fri, 04/24/2020 - 19:43 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Koronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Covid-19 Research

A safe and effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 could be key in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring human health.

Posodobljeno dne 21. 10. 2020

A safe and effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 could be key in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring human health.

The production of vaccines is a demanding and time-consuming process based on a variety of different studies, including the choice of the species of animal on which the vaccine will be tested. To date, researchers have tested Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Both species of animals were found to develop clinical signs of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease with experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection when exposed to a large amount of the virus. All the infected animals recovered. Syrian hamsters also developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 viruses following infection. The animals in both experiments eliminated the virus that infected the uninfected animals living with them. The results of these studies indicate that under experimental conditions SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted from infected to healthy Syrian hamsters and ferrets. However, this does not mean that this vrius can be transmitted from people to these two species of animals, or vice versa, or that these two species could transmit the virus and could be infected by humans. For the time being, there is no evidence of the virus being transmitted from animals to humans, and according to all known data, pets do not pose a risk to humans.

Koronavirus - Razkuževanje okolice

lukam — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 08:38:33 +0000

Coronavirus – Disinfecting the Environment lukam Fri, 04/24/2020 - 20:13 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Koronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Covid-19 Current

Given that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive in a vicinity for at least a few days, it is advisable to always disinfect any potentially infected areas prior to re-use.

Updated on 18. 3. 2020

Given that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive in a vicinity for at least a few days, it is advisable to always disinfect any potentially infected areas prior to re-use.

The antimicrobial efficacy of various disinfectants has been demonstrated to date for other types of Corona viruses (Table 1). Some of these active substances are also found in commonly used household products (e.g. sodium hypochlorite or ethanol (medical alcohol)). Studies on various types of Corona viruses have found that, for example, 70% ethanol performs better than 0.06% sodium hypochlorite. SARS-CoV is considered to be sensitive to sodium hypochlorite at a concentration of 0.05-0.1% - the disinfectant must be active for at least five minutes. Alcohol or ethanol is only effective in concentrations above 65%, while home-made spirits and similar alcohol drinks do not destroy the virus.

Table 1: Antimicrobials that are effective in different types of Corona viruses

Substance	Concentration
Ethanol	70%
Sodium hypochlorite	0.05 – 0.1% for SARS-CoV 0.1 – 0.5% for human Coronavirus 229E
Povidone-iodine	10 %
Glutaraldehyde	2 %
Isopropanol	50 %
Benzalkonium chloride	0.05 %
Sodium chlorite	0.23 %
Formaldehyde	0.7 %

Process of Cleaning at Home

Although there is currently no concrete scientific evidence of the efficacy of various disinfectants against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is first recommended that areas are cleaned using a neutral detergent (conventional cleaner) followed by disinfection using 0.1% sodium hypochlorite (dilute bleach at a ratio of 1:50 by mixing 1dcl of bleach with 50dcl (5 litres of water)). Surfaces that cannot be cleaned with bleach should first be cleaned using detergent and then disinfected using 70% ethanol.

When cleaning don't forget that you also need to protect yourself using suitable protective equipment. If reusable protective equipment (gloves, etc.) is used, It should be disinfected with bleach or ethanol after use. Rooms should be well ventilated during cleaning.

Those textiles that allow, should be washed at 90°C using washing powder. If textiles cannot be washed at a high temperature, chemicals such as bleach or other preparations containing sodium hypochlorite should be used.

Care for the Cleanliness of Pets

Before entering or returning home, it is advisable that the paws of dogs who are regularly taken for walks are washed using detergent/soap. Dogs' owners/carers should also wash their hands and disinfect them using a hand sanitizer containing alcohol or other disinfectants. Many owners also use shampoos and solutions containing chlorhexidine, which is a suitable disinfectant. Gloves should be used when washing dogs' paws, and owners/carers should ensure that they wash their hands thoroughly following the procedures for proper hand washing.

We also recommend that you shorten your walks appropriately and ensure you keep an appropriate distance from other pedestrians. However, if you still find yourself among a larger group of pedestrians, be sure to wipe your dog's fur using a disinfectant and a paper towel or disposable cloth on returning home.

Extracted from: Interim guidance for environmental cleaning in non-healthcare facilities exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (18.2.2020), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Koronavirus – Obvestila za stranke

lukam — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 11:50:48 +0000

Coronavirus – Customer Notification lukam Fri, 04/24/2020 - 10:27 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Koronavirus Covid-19 SARS-CoV-2 Licenciranje žrebcev Current

In order to reduce the possibility of the onset and transmission of coronavirus, urgent changes have been made to our clinics in terms of their work.

Posodobljeno dne 21. 10. 2020

In order to reduce the possibility of the onset and transmission of coronavirus, urgent changes have been made to our clinics in terms of their work.

Updated 16. 3. 2020

Small Animal Clinic

Dear Customer,

In order to reduce the possibility of the onset and transmission of coronavirus disease, urgent changes have been made to our work at the Small Animal Clinic:

The clinic will only accept emergencies until further notice
Please call us prior to arrival (01/4779-277 or 030/716-190

Upon arrival, please follow all the instructions displayed at the entrance as well as any follow-up instructions that employees will familiarise you with.

These instructions apply until they are revoked.

In the hope of stopping the spread as quickly as possible, we thank you for your understanding.

Diagnostic Laboratory of the Small Animal Clinic

In order to reduce the possibility of the outbreak and transmission of coronavirus, the afternoon on-call duty service at the Diagnostic Laboratory of the Small Animal Clinic, has been suspended until further notice. Samples are accepted from 8am to 3pm.

Clinic for Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles

For preventative reasons, with effect from 16 March 2020 only urgent cases, which are notified in advance by telephone, will be accepted at the Clinic for Birds, Small Mammals and Reptiles.

Prior to entering the clinic premises, please call: 01/4779 251.
Admission is restricted to one healthy person at a time.

Thank you for your understanding!

Sample Reception

For preventative reasons to contain the spread of coronavirus, with effect from Wednesday 18 March the Sample Reception at Gerbičeva 60 will only be open from 7am to 3pm from Monday to Friday. Samples are not accepted on Saturdays.

Thank you for your understanding!

Clinic for Reproduction and Large Animals

Department for the Selective Breeding of Equidae

Dear Customers,

We advise you that there are currently NO OFFICE HOURS until further notice at the Department for the Selective Breeding of Equidae due to preventive measures related to the increased risk of transmission of coronavirus.

Please contact us via our other communication channels:

Telephone number: 01 4779 384
E-mail: selection.kopitarjev@vf.uni-lj.si
Post: Department for the Selective Breeding of Equidae, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana

Thank you for your understanding!

More about our working hours can be found on the following link.

Koronavirus - Navodilo za izvajanje študijskega procesa

lukam — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 06:48:06 +0000

Coronavirus – Instructions for Conducting the Study Process lukam Fri, 04/24/2020 - 20:22 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Koronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Covid-19 študij Education

Conducting the study process at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the event of infection with coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Updated on 16. 4. 2020

Glede na aktualne razmere v zvezi s koronavirusom COVID-19 in na predlog Skupine za koordinacijo COVID-19 na UL, ki temelji na mnenjih epidemiologov in infektologov, je rektor Univerze v Ljubljani prof. dr. Igor Papič, sprejel naslednji SKLEP:

V kolikor bodo razmere dopuščale in pod pogojem, da bodo veljavni omejitveni ukrepi Vlade RS sproščeni, se za obdobje po 3. 5. 2020 v okviru UL sprejmejo naslednja priporočila:

1. Pouk se v študijskem letu 2019/20 izvede »online« povsod, kjer je to možno brez padca kakovosti.

2. Praktično usposabljanje v naslednjih oblikah (če bodo to omogočale uredbe Vlade RS):

individualno delo z mentorjem (raziskovalno delo, usposabljanje v simulacijskem okolju/učilnica);
individualno usposabljanje (npr. klinične vaje) v učnih ustanovah, če to omogoča ustanova;
druge oblike pouka, se lahko izvajajo pod naslednjimi pogoji:

i. zagotovljena fizična distanca (najmanj 1,5 m),
ii. zagotovljeno umivanje oz. razkuževanje rok,
iii. ustrezna osebna varovalna oprema, prilagojena glede na vrsto dejavnosti (zaščitna obrazna maska itd..). Oseba, odgovorna za izvedbo pouka, naj se seznani s priporočili iz spletnih strani NIJZ in MZ RS oz. se posvetuje z epidemiologom,
iv. razkuževanje predmetov in površin, ko skupina zapusti prostor,
v. prezračevanje prostorov,
vi. izvedba pouka v najkrajšem možnem času,
vii. oseba, odgovorna za izvedbo pouka, mora pred pričetkom izvajanja dejavnosti jasno opozoriti vse študente, da morajo v primeru simptomov in znakov akutne okužbe dihal ostati doma in se ravnati po znanih priporočilih (poklicati svojega oz. dežurnega zdravnika itd.). Pred izvedbo pouka mora odgovorna oseba ponovno preveriti, da so vsi udeleženci zdravi,
viii. fakulteta izdela ustrezne protokole za preprečevanje širjenja okužbe z novim koronavirusom in zagotavljanja varnosti pred okužbo (osebna varovalna oprema, zagotavljanje umivanja oz. razkuževanja rok itd.).

3. Učenje in oblike pouka, ki potekajo v večjih skupinah v učnih ustanovah, kot so bolnišnica, dom starejših občanov, razred, se do nadaljnjega preložijo do konca epidemije.

4. Preverjanja znanj in veščin:

priporoča se »online« izvedba ustnih izpitov in zagovorov zaključnih del,
priporoča se »online« izvedba ali nadomestitev z drugimi oblikami pisnega preverjanja.

Ob sprostitvi omejitvenih ukrepov je izvedba možna, pri čemer morajo biti izpolnjeni pogoji, navedeni v točki 2.

Sklep stopi v veljavo takoj in velja do preklica.

Napotki Univerze v Ljubljani za izvajanje študijskega procesa zaradi koronavirusa

Koronavirus – priporočila lastnikom ljubiteljskih vrst živali

lukam — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 16:37:39 +0000

Coronavirus – recommendations for owners of domestic animals lukam Fri, 04/24/2020 - 19:45 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Koronavirus Covid-19 SARS-CoV-2 Current

Recommendations from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to owners of domestic animals in the event of infection with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Updated on 1. 4. 2020

Recommendations from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to owners of domestic animals in the event of infection with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (greenish brown) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (pink), isolated from a patient sample. Credit: NIAID

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

In December 2019 several cases of human pneumonia were detected in Wuhan, China. The usual pathogens of respiratory diseases were excluded in these patients and infection with the new coronavirus was confirmed. The infection spread to different continents in a relatively short period of time. The new coronavirus was named SARS-CoV-2, and the disease caused by the virus was named COVID-19. The disease is characterised by: fever, malaise, fatigue, shortness of breath, a cough, and, in severe forms, difficulty in breathing. About 80% of those infected have a mild form of the virus. Based on the clinical signs of the virus, infection with the new coronavirus cannot be distinguished from other respiratory infections, thus microbiological testing is required.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are RNA viruses that belong to the Coronaviridae family. Coronavirus infections are common in humans and animals. Alpha and beta coronaviruses usually infect mammals, while gamma and delta coronaviruses infect birds and fish. Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a beta-coronavirus. Beta-coronaviruses also include SARS-CoV (a coronavirus that causes acute respiratory distress syndrome - SARS) and MERS-CoV (a coronavirus that causes Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome - MERS). SARS broke out in 2002 in China. The new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is genetically more similar to SARS-CoV than MERS-CoV.

Can Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 originate in animals?

Human-isolated SARS-CoV-2 is 96% identical to beta-coronaviruses isolated from several bats of the Rhinolophus genus. Genetic analyses of SARS-CoV-2 and beta-coronaviruses isolated from bats indicate that the predecessors of SARS-CoV-2 are derived from bats of the Rhinolophus genus. Bats belonging to this genus are widespread in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

It is very likely that an intermediate host was involved in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from animal reservoirs (bats) to humans. No information is currently available regarding a potential intermediate host, but these may be various species of animals including wildlife, domestic animals (pets or reared) or stray animals.

What to do in the event of contact with animals and animal products?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends general hygiene measures for the handling of live animals and animal products. This means regular washing of hands with soap and running water after contact with animals and animal products, avoiding touching the eyes, nose and mouth, and taking special care when dealing with diseased animals or rotten animal products. The WHO also recommends avoiding contact with stray dogs and cats, rodents, birds and bats.

The WHO's standard recommendations for preventing the spread of infection are: regular washing of hands, covering the mouth and nose with your elbow when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact with people with a respiratory tract infection. Hand washing can be replaced by disinfection if the hands are not visibly dirty. Although there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is foodborne, careful handling of raw meat, milk and animal organs is recommended. Foods that are consumed raw (e.g. fruit and vegetables) should be washed thoroughly.

Can pets become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus?

The current spread of SARS-CoV-2 is due to the transmission of the virus to humans. According to the information collected, there is no evidence that pets can transmit the virus. Therefore, measures that could affect the welfare of domestic animals are not currently needed.

Veterinary services in Hong Kong have reported that two dogs that were in close contact with owners showing signs of the virus had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Both dogs were healthy and showed no clinical signs of disease.

On 18 March a case of a cat that showed signs of respiratory disease and tested positive for the presence of Sars-CoV-2 was reported in Belgium. The cat became infected from its sick owner through very close constant contact. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is aware of this case and is monitoring it closely, however, for now there is no new information to indicate that it is necessary to change any of the instructions found on its websites. It appears that the cat was infected by a human being through very close contact, but so far there is no evidence that infection could occur in the opposite direction, i.e. that a cat or dog could infect a human.

In developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, researchers have so far tested Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Both types of animals were found to develop clinical signs of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease when subjected to significant amounts of experimental infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. All the infected animals have since recovered. The Syrian hamsters also developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 viruses following infection. The animals in both experiments eliminated the virus that infected the uninfected animals living with them. The results of these studies indicate that under experimental conditions SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted from infected to healthy Syrian hamsters and ferrets. However, this does not mean that this virus can be transmitted from people to these two species of animals, or vice versa, or that these two species could transmit the virus and could be infected by humans. A safe and effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 could be key in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring human health. Development of vaccines is a demanding and time-consuming process based on numerous studies, including the choice of the species of animal on which the vaccine will be tested.

At this time, there is no evidence of the transmission of the virus from animals to humans and, according to all known data, pets do not pose a risk to humans. There is no evidence that animals could spread the virus or become ill due to infection with SARS-CoV-2. Many additional studies will be needed to investigate the possible role of domestic animals in the epidemiology of the disease, especially in the case of domestic animals from households in which people have confirmed or suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2.

Should people with an acute respiratory infection avoid contact with pets?

People with acute respiratory tract infections are advised to limit contact with domestic animals. This means that they should not stroke, hug or caress, or share food with pets, and pets should not lick infected people. It is recommended that animals are taken care of by another person in the household who is healthy. If the infected person cannot avoid contact with their pets, they should wear a face mask and wash and disinfect hands before and after contact with the animals.

What to do with pets that have been in contact with a person who has been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

The current spread of SARS-CoV-2 is due to the transmission of the virus among humans. According to the information collected, there is no evidence that domestic animals can transmit the virus or become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, since animals and humans can share diseases (known as zoonotic diseases), humans infected with SARS-CoV-2 are advised to limit their contact with domestic animals. Basic hygiene measures must be followed when handling and caring for animals. This includes regularly washing hands before and after handling animals and animal feed. Stroking, hugging, caressing and sharing food with pets should be avoided. People who are ill and/or quarantined due to a possible SARS-CoV-2 infection should avoid close contact with domestic animals as much as possible. Pets should be taken care of by other household members. If this is not possible, maintain good hygiene and, in as much as it is possible, a mouth and nose mask should be worn.

What to do if your pet becomes ill after being in contact with a person infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

Call your vet to arrange a visit. DO NOT visit a veterinary clinic without first consulting with the staff there.

Can a pet that has been in contact with an infected person pass on the infection to other people?

The current spread of SARS-CoV-2 is due to the transmission of the virus among humans. According to the information collected, there is no evidence that pets could transmit or become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Is there a preventative vaccination for pets that prevents infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

No.

What should those in self-isolation do with their pets?

People under quarantine or self-isolation are advised to keep their animals with them. Animals should be allowed outside as little as possible.

If you live in a detached building with its own courtyard/garden and providing your health permits, you can take your dog out to the courtyard/garden but only for the time required. Dogs should not be left unattended!

If you live in an apartment building or your health is poor, you should allow your dog to do the necessary, i.e. go to the toilet, inside. Choose a location where the dog can go to the toilet - a space that can be cleaned - and lay out a nappy or an old sheet, towel etc. Dispose of the faeces in the toilet bowl. Cats should not be let out, rather a litter tray should be provided.

Persons who have been confirmed as being infected with SARS-CoV-2 are advised to avoid contact with animals. Basic hygiene measures must be followed when handling and caring for animals. This includes regularly washing hands before and after handling animals and their food. Stroking, hugging, caressing and sharing food with animals should be avoided. People who are ill or quarantined due to suspected infection with SARS-CoV-2 should avoid close contact with domestic animals as much as possible. Pets should be taken care of by other household members. If this is not possible, maintain good hygiene and, in as much as it is possible, a mouth and nose mask should be worn.
In the event that a pet owner is hospitalised, the animal should be kept at home and taken care of by other household members.

What should pet owners do in the event that they are admitted to hospital due to being infected with coronavirus infection and do not have anyone to look after their pet(s)?

Patients who are under quarantine or in self-isolation and whose condition deteriorates to such an extent that hospital care is required should NOT bring their animals to an animal shelter. Since the situation is changing rapidly and varies between municipalities, ensure you check with the competent shelter or other competent authority to find out how to properly handle the situation in a particular municipality.

Can the virus survive in the environment?

It is currently not known how long-lasting SARS-CoV-2 is. It is assumed to be similar to other coronaviruses. The results of research have shown that human coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and HCoV, are infectious on metals, glass or plastic for up to nine days. Viruses are effectively inactivated through disinfecting surfaces using 62 to 71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite. The disinfectant should be on the surfaces for at least one minute. As there is no specific treatment available for SARS-CoV-2, early inhibition and prevention of further spread will be critical in stopping the onset of the virus and in controlling the spread of this new pathogen.

Learn more about the home cleaning process on the following link.

How should pets be kept clean?

Learn more about keeping your pets clean and the home cleaning process on the following link.

Care of animals, such as horses, in another municipality

At this point in time it is still permitted for those with animals housed in another municipality to travel there to take care of their animals, as this is considered an urgent need, which is permitted by the Decree on the temporary general prohibition of movement and gathering of people in public places and areas in the Republic of Slovenia and the prohibition of movement outside the municipalities. Source

(Extracted from recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA))

Should you have any questions about the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and domestic or wild animals please send them by email to: koronavet.vf@vf.uni-lj.si. We will answer your questions as soon as possible.

Informacije o nevarnostih koronavirusa COVID-19

lukam — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:40:36 +0000

Information About the Dangers of COVID-19 Coronavirus lukam Fri, 04/24/2020 - 10:23 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Koronavirus Covid-19 Current

To date the transmission of animal coronavirus to humans has only been confirmed for the SARS and MERS viruses, while there is no evidence for the new COVID-19 virus that it can be transmitted from humans to animals and back from animals to humans.

Posodobljeno dne 21. 10. 2020

The new coronavirus was first identified towards the end of 2019 in Wuhan in the Chinese province of Hubei. The infection spread rapidly, causing a dangerous respiratory disease in humans with a mortality rate of around 2%. The virus was named 'SARS-CoV-2'; the disease caused by the virus is called 'coronavirus disease 2019', which is abbreviated to 'COVID-19'.
Various coronaviruses form the large Coronaviridae family and are often present in many species of animals, including domestic animals such as cattle, horses, pigs, dogs and cats. Infection of a host requires a low amount of virus, and coronavirus infections can spread rapidly. In rare cases, animal coronaviruses can infect humans and then spread from person to person. This was the case for SARS and MERS a few years ago, however, today these viruses do not pose a significant risk and are not spreading.
In the early stages of the epidemic, at the outbreak of the new COVID-19 virus in Wuhan, China, many patients had a proven link to a central major market (a suspected source of infection) where seafood and various live animals are sold, suggesting the transmission of a new virus through animals (when eaten) to humans. It was subsequently shown that the growing number of patients could not be epidemiologically linked to direct or indirect contacts in that market or to animal products, which confirmed the initial suspicion that the virus could spread from person to person. Human-to-human transmission was subsequently confirmed in many countries outside China. Several cities report that, based on to the first cases identified, the number of patients increased sharply in a very short period of time, especially in places with a larger number of infected people, and there are also many unexplained ways of infection.
Diseases caused by animal coronaviruses are mostly manifested as respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. Infections of cats with coronavirus are manifested by fever, accompanied by loss of appetite, inactivity and weight loss, which in 90% of cases is accompanied by gastrointestinal inflammation with the appearance of fluid in the abdominal cavity. In dogs, it is known that the intestinal and lung types of coronaviruses are caused by two different viruses. Bovine coronavirus causes the so-called winter diarrhoea in cattle, and the same virus is found in the causative agents of the bovine respiratory complex. Equine coronavirus is often found when diarrhoea occurs. In pigs, the well-known type of TGE coronavirus is, as is the case with the PED virus, a typical intestinal virus. The PRCV virus, which causes milder respiratory disease in pigs, is also widespread. Even in poultry, coronaviruses infect the respiratory tract. HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE VIRUSES HAVE BEEN TRANSMITTED FROM ANIMALS TO HUMANS AND DO NOT CAUSE INFECTIONS IN HUMANS.

To date the transmission of animal coronavirus to humans has been confirmed only for the SARS and MERS viruses, while there is no evidence that the new COVID-19 virus can be transmitted from humans to animals and back from animals to humans. However, caution should always be practiced. Protection against a potential source of animal contamination involves avoiding unnecessary contact with unknown animals and the mandatory washing and disinfection of hands after contact with animals. Care must also be taken to ensure that meat, meat products and eggs are properly heat treated before being eaten.