Horse & Human Crossover Diseases

There are few diseases that a sick horse can possibly transmit to a human. This is very small in comparison to the chances of picking up a disease from another human being. If you keep up with proper sanitation, wash your hands after handling a sick animal and getting your horse immunizations, the odds of catching a disease from a horse is even smaller.

  1. Rabies

    • Horses can transmit rabies if they are bitten by an infected animal. People get infected through the horse's saliva.

    Giardia

    • This is the most common disease to go from horse to humans, although it's unclear how. The theory is that accidentally swallowing some fecal matter may cause it.

    Anthrax

    • It is unknown how horses infected with anthrax can infect humans. Any horse that dies very suddenly needs to be removed promptly in case they were killed by anthrax.

    Dermatophilus (Rain Rot)

    • This can be transmitted through direct contact with a sick horse or from an insect that bites a sick horse and then a person. It causes wet, crusty and itchy skin.

    Ringworm

    • This is caused by direct contact with the infected horse or the tools used to groom the horse's skin. This is a treatable, non-lethal fungal disease for both horses and humans.