Can humans get sick from bunnies?

[mrmac]

I was just curious if there are diseases or illnesses that can be passed to humans? I am currently sick and trying to rule out all possibilities at this oint as I have no idea what ive got! Any help MUCH appreciated, I need to feel better!!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Bunnies do not get colds like we do-so they can’t pass that along-in either direction. I believe the only thing that is zoonotic and contagious between rabbits and humans (and likewise other pets) is fleas and ticks -parasites-because they just require a body.

What are your symptoms? I work in a hospital!

[mrmac]

Since Sunday evening, didn’t sleep at all that night, started having diaherra, started feeling nauseous, vomited Monday morning, been nauseous since then, got some sleep last night, trying to drink fluids but its hard. I went to the ER like 2 weeks ago for something similar and got an IV nausea meds, and immodium. When I went to the ER I was throwing up and had the nausea and diaherra, but no fever with that one. I just dont know what to do or what it could be? Is there anything in their pee or poop that isn’t good for humans? My old dog used to eat rabbit poop outside and she would get sick but that is a dog.

[Sarita]

As far as toxmoplasmosis I think you can only get this through cat feces (you can get it other ways) but as far as feces only through cats I believe. Not sure what the symptoms for this are though.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

That’s correct on toxoplasmosis I believe toxoplasmosis is only a problem when pregnant-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis

mrflais-have you heard of Norwalk virus-that’s fairly common here -http://microbiology.mtsinai.on.ca/faq/norwalkfaq.shtml Sounds very much like what your describing.
{{Get well Vibes}}

Definitely not food poisioning since that’s occurs almost immediately and once your done ’emptying’ your done.

[mrmac]

Thanks so much! That really does sound like what I’ve got, and I am pretty positive I am not pregnant so that is eliminated! At least now I know I should just let it take its course and keep an eye on it, and disinfect EVERYTHING!!! Does it re occur? Would this have been the same thing from 2 weeks ago?

[ScooterandAnnette]

From someone who’s had Norwalk let me tell you that I think it’s not so much that it recurs – although it’s definitely possible to get it again – but within a short time span more likely to be that you hadn’t fully recovered from it yet and then provided an opportunity for it to re-establish itself. Just make sure to not only disinfect everything but wash your hands like you’re obsessed about it. Seriously. The top way it’s transmitted is by getting it on your hands and using your hands to eat (meals, snacks, cough drops) without washing your hands first. When you think of how many things you touch in a day that someone else who might have been sick has touched, it starts to get a little creepy actually. And it’s so hard to try and make sure to wash hands or use sanitizer before eating ANYTHING. Example: You’re in a grocery store where they have samples – you take one and eat it. You’ve used your hands. No big deal because the samples are on a tray and no one else has touched them right? Sample lady has gloves on. But you’ve been pushing a cart and there might be Norwalk germs on the handle of it, which are now on the hand that you’ve just used to pick up that sample and put it in your mouth. Blech!

You can’t focus on it TOO much though, otherwise you’d never step foot out of the house. But especially while recovering from Norwalk, I’d say for at least a month, you need to be super-vigilant about making sure you don’t eat ANYTHING without sterilzing your hands first.
– Annette

[mrmac]

It seems so easy to catch, so that really does make sense! It won’t hurt the buns will it though? ………(walks to the sink  to wash hands after touching the keyboard)

[BinkyBunny]

So this is actually something that has come up before and I had found it confusing because some sites would say no there aren’t any illness that can be transferred  from human to rabbit and vice versa (except parasitic like worms and such) but then there is this scary list from http://www.medirabbit.com/Zoonotic/Zoonotic_main.htm but it doesn’t distinquish whether this is for wild rabbits, domestic rabbits or even alive rabbits.  I have asked my vets and I had asked at the House Rabbit Society headquarters, and they all said it is very unlikely these bacteria type illness would occur in domestic rabbits and that humans don’t normally contract any illnesses from rabbits unless they have a severely compromised immune system (like when receiving chemotherapy).  For example a rabbit can have pnuemonia, and so can a human, but they are not the same bacterial/viral species (if I am using the term right…don’t know) but  they cannot be transferred to each other. 

I did find an response by rabbit savvy biologist, Dana Krempels,  which actually addresses that scary list from medirabbit.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/Diseases-rabbits.htm

 

[mrmac]

Thanks those were good articles! Well now the vomiting has stopped but the diaherra continues and my fever went away for like a day then came back very slight tonight. Thank so much for the help everyone!

[BinkyBunny]

I’m sending health vibes your way. Feel better soon!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

{{Healthy Vibes}} We get Norwalk outbreaks (plus all kinds of things where I work) because there are so many people in and out, and also because of the weaker immune systems of most of our residents.

Hand washing like it’s compulsive is perfect. Also we have hand sanitizer everywhere and I really found that makes a difference too! You can also get wipes and wipe down everything in your house too. (Just no kleenex boxes on your feet like Mr. Burns and then you know your sane!)

[mrmac]

Thats what I have been doing…every time I touch anything I wash or use hand sanitizer! I am just soooo ready to be done being sick!

[Author]

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