Zoonosis: A disease of animals that is trasmittable to humans.
The internet has a wealth of information on this subject and all pet owners should take the time to read up on it. If you own a cat or a dog or any other type of animal, the diseases they do or can carry should be important to you. You should know how to prevent the spread of parasites and diseases from your pets to the humans that come in contact with them. Everyone including children are suseptible to zoonotic diseases. Children are sometimes more likely to contract diseases because they let animals lick their face, or share a snack with their pet, irritate a pet and get scratched or bitten. They come in contact with the floors more than most adults do. They play in the dirt or grass where the animals eliminate. Diseases can be spread readily through these and many other forms of transmission. Educating yourself to the diseases themselves and how to pevent the contraction of them should be an essential part of pet ownership. Be sure to ask your vet, as well as your doctor or pediatrician what signs to look for when dealing with things of this nature.
This is the site for the center for disease control, here you will find "Healthy Pets Healthy People". This site is dedicated to the education and prevention of zoonotic disease from domestic and wild animals.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/ 