By Carol Church, Writer, Family Album
Reviewed by Amarat Simonne, PhD, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, University of Florida
I once spent a frigidly cold December afternoon watching my entranced toddler feed goats and sheep at an orchard petting zoo. I would rather have been inside the farm stand drinking hot cider and eating fresh donuts, but my son had other ideas. Like most children his age, he was fascinated by these interesting animals.
Did the two of us wash and sanitize our hands immediately after our barnyard adventure? To be honest with you, I can’t recall. But after reading about a recent outbreak of dangerous Escherichia coli infections among schoolchildren who visited a dairy fair in Washington, I’m realizing how important that can be in these situations.
What is E. coli?
Most E. coli bacteria are harmless, but some can produce severe illness in people. The current Washington outbreak involves E. coli O157, which can cause abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and even a serious problem called Hemolytic Uremia Syndrome, a kind of kidney failure that can be fatal. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are all at increased risk of contracting E. coli infections.
E. coli bacteria live in the intestines of many animals, including humans, but the type associated with illness generally come from the guts of certain farm animals, like cows, sheep, and goats. They make their way to humans through contact with contaminated feces.
Potential Sources of Infection
The most common source of E. coli infections is contaminated ground beef, but you can get an E. coli infection through eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water or milk (raw milk is a particular risk), or through accidental contact with a feces-contaminated environment, such as on a farm or at a petting zoo. For instance, you might touch an animal or a surface that is contaminated and then eat or drink something, transferring the bacteria to your mouth. E. coli can also be spread from one infected person to another.
Livestock Contact Can be a Risk
In the recent Washington outbreak, which has sickened 42 people so far (22 confirmed and 20 probable cases), the exact source is not yet known. However, the outbreak is definitely linked to a “Milk Makers” agricultural fair, which featured a petting zoo with cattle and other animals. The organizers provided hand sanitizer and encouraged attendees to wash their hands with soap and water, but it’s easy to see how children (who also ate packed lunches at the event) could have accidentally transferred some E. coli to their mouths, if it was in the area.
The risk of contracting E. coli from a petting zoo or in a livestock area is well known. Experts recommend forbidding eating, drinking, or smoking in such areas, leaving strollers, toys, bottles, pacifiers, food, beverages, and even large bags outside, and making sure all visitors wash their hands when leaving. Hand sanitizer, while helpful when running water is not available, is not a substitute for hand washing.
Follow Good Food Safety Practices
Of course, petting zoos and live animal areas are far from the only source of E. coli infections. Play it safe in these areas, but it’s also crucial to follow good food safety and hygiene practices. Wash your hands before starting to cook or prepare food and after using the bathroom and changing diapers. Cook foods, including meats, to the proper temperature, and avoid cross-contaminating foods and surfaces in the kitchen.
No one wants to contract an E. coli infection and become ill. Awareness about the source of these infections and how to prevent them can help your family stay healthy.
Further Reading:
Preventing Foodborne Illness: E. coli O157:H7--from UF-IFAS EDIS
E. coli: General Information–from the CDC
E. coli–from Foodsafety.gov
References:
CDC. (2011). Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2011: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6004a1.htm
CDC. (2015). E. coli: General information. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/general/index.html
FDA. (2012). Bad bug book. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/CausesOfIllnessBadBugBook/
Whatcom County Health Department. (2015). Whatcom County E. coli O157 Outbreak Update: 3:30 PM May 5 2015. Retrieved from http://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/9207
Photo Credits: SerrNovik/iStock/Thinkstock
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