Zoonoses are diseases of domestic and wild animals that can be transmitted to humans under natural conditions.
Zoonotic disease-causing microorganisms can be carried by a "vector," such as a flea, tick, or mosquito, that transfers the disease agent from its source in nature to a human host.
In western Colorado the zoonotic diseases we are most concerned with are:
Zoonotic Diseases in Mesa County 
The Environmental Health Division provides a number of services in Mesa County to reduce the threat posed by these diseases to residents and visitors. Public education is a vital element of the overall prevention program.
Monitoring for the presence of zoonoses is accomplished through performing routine field surveillance studies. Indicators of the presence of zoonotic disease agents can be found through observing the health of animal populations and performing serological testing of blood collected from humans, domestic birds, and wild birds and mammals.
Entomology is an important part of our program and we spend a considerable amount of time trapping, collecting, identifying and monitoring insect species.