Should you care about what the cat (or dog) dragged in? A doctor's advice

Recent infections such as Alaskapox and bubonic plague are reminders that diseases from animals can sometimes be transmitted to humans.

Health officials in Alaska recently reported the first known human death from a virus called Alaskapox.

The man, who died in January, lived in a wooded area and cared for a stray cat that hunted small animals, according to health officials. He had a weakened immune system and is thought to have contracted Alaskapox through contact with animals.

At around the same time, an individual living in Oregon was diagnosed with bubonic plague. Health officials suspect this person was infected by a cat. The individual is reported to be in early stages of the illness, and the patient and close contacts are being treated with antibiotics.

These infections are reminders that diseases from nonhuman animals can sometimes be transmitted to humans. To get a better sense of what such diseases are and what precautions pet owners and animal lovers should take to keep themselves and their animals healthy, I spoke with CNN wellness medical expert Dr. Leana Wen.

Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimore’s health commissioner, where as part of her responsibilities, she also oversaw animal control and protection.

CNN: What types of diseases can household pets like cats and dogs transmit to humans?

Dr. Leana Wen: Just as humans can transmit diseases to other humans, animals can transmit diseases to others in their own species. Sometimes, animals can transmit diseases to other species, and that includes humans with whom pets have had close contact.