The Dangers of Petting Zoos
As the summer season is upon us, visits to petting zoos and other animal exhibits occur more frequently. While they are wonderful places to introduce young children to a variety of animals with which they have never had close contact, petting zoos also pose significant dangers if precautions are not taken.
Years ago, I represented a young girl who contracted a terrible strand of E. coli at a petting zoo in Pennsylvania. She lost her kidneys but was fortunate that her father was a match and was able to donate one of his to help her survive. After many months in the hospital, as the bacteria ran through her organs, she made the best recovery possible but still lives with the consequences nearly a decade later.
Many animals found at common petting zoos carry E. coli bacteria in their digestive systems. When the animals defecate, it can get on their fur if they are rolling around on the ground.
After touching animals, parents and children alike should take precautions to wash hands with warm water and soap. It is important to make certain that any of the animals’ fecal matter gets removed from the hands. This is especially true in petting zoos and other animal exhibits where food is also served and where children will be placing their hands into their mouths. While at the petting zoo or animal exhibit, make certain that children do not wipe their eyes with their hands or put their fingers in their mouths.
When returning from the petting zoo, it is a good idea to make sure that any animal feces are washed off of shoes or other items of clothing so that they are not again contacted by hands causing further contamination.
Currently, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, and local health agencies in the St. Louis metropolitan area is investigating five Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) cases in individuals who visited Grant’s Farm in St. Louis since late May of this year. The investigation is ongoing in an effort to determine where the visitors contracted the E. coli.
Prompt medical attention should one suspect they have contracted E. coli is critical. Symptoms may include those commonly thought of as associated with a normal attack of diarrhea. However, they persist to the point of being unable to hold food or water. Significant dehydration can result. In addition, without antibiotic treatment, the bacteria may continue to progress from organ to organ.
