Zoonotic diseases (or zoonoses) are infections that are spread between animals and people. Zoonotic disease diagnosed in companion animals, exotic pets, and wildlife, are important potential indicators, or sentinels, for human illness. DC Health’s Animal Disease Surveillance System integrates monitoring of animal health with surveillance of diseases of public health importance. Surveillance data enables expeditious response and planning for public health threats since animals can often serve as sentinels for human illness. Please review the Annual Surveillance Report for 2019-2020 for more information.