Zoonosis is a disease communicable from animals to humans under natural conditions.

Mission:

The mission of the Zoonosis Control Program of the Texas Department of State Health Services is to promote public health through the prevention and control of diseases transmissible from animal to human (zoonoses). To achieve its purpose, the Zoonosis Control Program investigates reported occurrences of zoonotic diseases in the state, collects biological samples for surveillance, presents educational programs dealing with zoonosis prevention, provides training courses for Animal Control Officers, and regulates all animal control facilities where rabies suspects are observed. All these activities interact to reduce the occurrence of zoonotic disease in humans by eliminating reservoirs and vectors when possible, and by identifying disease threats and teaching people to avoid circumstances where they might become exposed to zoonotic diseases. In Public Health Region 11, the Zoonosis Control Program is actively involved in the surveillance, investigation, and control of cases of Rabies, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Flea-borne Typhus, Arboviral Encephalitis, Brucellosis, Dengue, Q-fever, Psittacosis, Plague, Lyme disease, Hantavirus, animal bites, and other zoonoses.

Related Links:

• Animal Bites
• Brucellosis
• Ehrlichiosis
• Lyme Borreliosis
• Murine Typhus
• Rabies
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Salmonellosis
• Toxocariasis
• West Nile
• DSHS Zoonosis Control Branch
• CDC Updated Information Mosquito Repellents May 08 - (37KB PDF)

Contact Us

Ronald Tyler 
Zoonosis Control Veterinarian
Phone: (956) 444-3222
ronald.tyler@dshs.texas.gov

Paul Odeniran 
Zoonosis Epidemiologist
Phone: (956) 444-3221
paul.odeniran@dshs.texas.gov

Lety Tamayo
Public Health Prevention Specialist
Phone: (956) 444-3212
leticia.tamayo@dshs.texas.gov