What is an example of a zoonotic disease?

Influenza is considered a zoonotic disease because it can be transmitted between animals and humans. Specifically, certain strains of the influenza virus originate in animals, such as birds and pigs, and have the ability to infect human populations. Zoonotic diseases are those that are capable of being transferred from animals to humans, leading to various forms of disease. In the case of influenza, it exemplifies this concept as the virus can mutate and cross species barriers, demonstrating how closely interlinked human and animal health can be.

In contrast, chicken pox, measles, and the common cold are primarily human diseases that do not have significant zoonotic potential. They spread from person to person rather than from animals to humans, which is a key distinction that reinforces why influenza is the correct example of a zoonotic disease. Understanding this concept is crucial in the study of infectious diseases and their impacts on public health.