Can exotic pets spread disease?
The physical safety of the public is not only an issue for owners of exotic animals: the spread of disease is a much larger threat. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each oppose keeping certain exotic animals as pets. Exotic animals often carry diseases such as herpes B, salmonella, monkey pox and rabies, all of which are easily transmittable to and potentially lethal to humans.
