Are animals at the zoo capable of giving off diseases?

Question

Are animals at the zoo capable of giving off diseases?

Answer 1

No because That would be illegal

Answer 2

i think yes,,

for a reason that disease can be airborne

or

disease can be transmitted by their saliva or in their urine...

Answer 3

Some diseases can be spread from non-humans animals to humans, but most cannot.  The ones that can are called "zoonotic" diseases.  For example, Salmonella is transferred from about any animal to humans under the right conditions.  

The most common route of picking up a zoonotic disease is through direct contact with an animal or with its wastes (f***s, urine, blood, etc.).  So as a result, it's highly unlikely that a visitor to a zoo could be infected with anything from an animal since you don't typically come into contact with them.  In the cases where you do (petting zoos, some aviaries, etc.), the animals in those enclosures are typically screened for common zoonotic diseases on a regular basis in order to minimize this risk.

That all said, good hygiene is the key to avoiding zoonotic diseases, just like it helps you avoid colds and the flu spread by other humans.  *Always* wash your hands after interacting with an animal or its caging materials, and always wash again before you eat.