--- title: Avoid bite of nasty bugs date: 2005-06-02T16:09:40-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/avoid-bite-of-nasty-bugs" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Avoid bite of nasty bugs ![](http://www.ecoliblog.com/2article.jpg)Last month, [petting zoo](http://www.fair-safety.com) animals caused an outbreak of 26 E. coli infections at three central Florida fairs. In North Carolina, more than 100 people, mostly children, were infected by E. coli at the state fair last year. Two E. coli outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Washington in 2000 led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish recommendations for preventing the disease when people come in contact with animals. [E. coli O157:H7](http://www.about-ecoli.com/) can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and in about 2 percent to 7 percent of cases, life-threatening kidney complications. In addition to animals at petting zoos, “pocket pets” such as hamsters, mice, reptiles, and amphibians are notorious for carrying a dangerous multidrug-resistant form of salmonella. As many as 70,000 people contract salmonellosis from reptiles in the United States each year. To prevent possible infection, the CDC suggests that you scrub your hands vigorously with soap and water (preferably hot water) for at least 20 seconds after contact with animals. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective against many organisms. However, hand sanitizers are not effective against bacterial spores, Cryptosporidium and some viruses. Hand sanitizers are also less effective when hands are visibly dirty. In addition, the CDC recommends: • Supervise children closely at petting zoos and fairs, making sure to discourage hand-to-mouth contact. • Do not take food or beverages, toys, pacifiers, baby bottles or sippy cups into the animal contact areas. • Fairs and zoos should limit access to animal areas, with hand-washing stations at the gates and in food concession areas. ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Raw Farms linked to another Raw Milk Cheese E.coli Outbreak - 9 People sickened - Company refuses to recall product](https://marlerclark.com/raw-farms-linked-to-another-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-7-people-sickened) [10 with E. coli linked to Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/3-with-e-coli-linked-to-cheese) [Sycamore Pool in Chico California Contaminated with E.coli - Two teens in ICU](https://marlerclark.com/sycamore-pool-in-chico-california-contaminated-with-e-coli-two-teens-in-icu) [Deadly Nationwide E.coli Outbreak Linked to Grimmway Farms Organic Baby and Whole Carrots sickens 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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 ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [E. coli Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) 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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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. 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