A recent CDC expert commentary was recently published on “Animal Lovers and Zoonotic Diseases: 5 Things to Know“. Regular readers of Worms & Germs will find many of the points very familiar, but the article provides a nice summary of some of the recurring themes that arise when dealing with animals and people and the infectious diseases we share. The article is great reading for healthcare providers (who are in fact the target audience), with some important reminders about the risks of not only direct contact with animals, but also indirect contact and even contact with pet food. At the very end is a link to a simple but useful 1-page tip sheet on staying healthy around pets. While certainly not exhaustive, the tips provided are certainly a good start to decreasing some of the infectious disease risks associated with pets.