Can you transmit germ to fish? Or vice versa?

[nursie]

I have a nasty summer cold..oh yeah :sick:
I got to thinking...if I work with my tanks can I transmit something to the fish? I always wash hands/arms after working with tanks. I guess I probably should before.
Any info out there on this? The only thing I've read is TB is transmittable. I would assume some bacterias are too. I know there are some viruses that cross species boundaries. Just curious if any we have affect fish.

[Swimfins]

I don't really think a cold virus can be transimitted to a tank.
W can introduce ich and bacterias by working in one tank and then using infected nets or tubing with water droplets or some other way bugs can get introduced to a tank. Or like I've seen guys do, dipping into one tank and dipping into another to take water to fill fish bags when selling fish. (I saw this done with my betta, and he even dropped the fish on the counter) :sad: I should have refused the purchase but I felt sorry for the fish.
Umm but yes, you sould protect yourself from what may be lurking unseen in the tank. I know an old man who had a finger amputated after a wound became infected and now he won't put a bare hand into a salt water tank or any other without precautions.

Anyway, I think all my fish would have colds now if that was the case.

[OrionGirl]

Very few common viruses or bacteria will be transmittable to our fish--particularly those that infect the lungs, and vice versa--TB can, but this is nothing like the human version of TB.