Key points
- You can help prevent cystic echinococcosis by limiting areas where your dogs are allowed and don't let your animals eat meat infected with cysts.
- To prevent alveolar echinococcosis, limit contact with wild animals like foxes, coyotes, and dogs, and limit your dog's contact with rodents.
Prevention steps and strategies
Cystic echinococcosis
Cystic echinococcosis is controlled by preventing transmission of the parasite. Prevention measures include limiting the areas where dogs are allowed and preventing animals from consuming meat infected with cysts.
- Prevent dogs from feeding on the carcasses of infected sheep.
- Control stray dog populations.
- Restrict home slaughter of sheep and other livestock.
- Do not consume any food or water that may have been contaminated by fecal matter from dogs.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling dogs, and before handling food.
- Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection.
Alveolar echinococcosis
Alveolar echinococcosis can be prevented by avoiding contact with wild animals such as foxes, coyotes, and dogs and their fecal matter and by limiting the interactions between dogs and rodent populations.
- Do not allow dogs to feed on rodents and other wild animals.
- Avoid contact with wild animals such as foxes, coyotes and stray dogs.
- Do not encourage wild animals to come close to your home or keep them as pets.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling dogs or cats, and before handling food.
- Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection.