All News / Outbreaks /

Summer season uncages health risks

petting zoo ecoli safetyQ: Our family is going to visit the zoo this summer. Do we need to be concerned about touching the animals?
A: Animals at the zoo or county fairs can carry infectious diseases that cause illness or even death. If hands are not washed after handling animals, bacteria can transfer to food and into the body. Children tend to put their hands in their mouths more than adults, so it is especially important to wash their hands. There have been several outbreaks of illness after handling animals and then consuming food. In 2000, two incidences occurred in Pennsylvania and Washington causing illness due to E.coli infections. Fifty-six children became ill and 19 were hospitalized, all due to direct farm animal contact. Another incident occurred in 2002 at an Oregon county fair. After visiting the sheep and goat exhibits, 82 people became ill. And just this year, more than 20 people became ill after handling animals in Florida petting zoos.


Here are some tips to reduce the chance of illness:
— The best defense is washing hands with soap and hot water as soon as possible.
— Do not eat or drink until hands are clean.
— Do not consume food or beverages in the animal areas.
— Children who climb or touch gates or stall dividers also should wash their hands.
— Do not kiss the animals.
— Do not feed the animals.
— Concerns about health should not keep people from enjoying being around animals. Simply taking precautions such as thorough hand washing can make the difference between an enjoyable memory and an unfortunate incident.

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
E. coli Food Poisoning

What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so...

E. coli O157:H7

E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in...

Non-O157 STEC

Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least...

Sources of E. coli

Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are...

Transmission of and Infection with E. coli

While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database