As indicated above, “zoonotic diseases”—those that can be passed between animals and humans—include rabies and herpes B virus infection. These are fatal in people, and thus of great concern; they are also fairly common.  Ebola virus infection is a rare but also lethal disease in people and animals, especially primates (see More Medicine section.) 

Other examples of zoonotic diseases include mycobacteria infection, which causes tuberculosis, influenza virus, giardia protozoa, and ascarid roundworm infection.  Vets take every precaution to avoid these diseases, wearing protective clothing and following good basic hygiene (frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water).