--- title: "Pet, then wash carefully" date: 2005-04-01T14:35:12-08:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/pet-then-wash-carefully" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Pet, then wash carefully ![](http://www.ecoliblog.com/article4.jpg)Florida health officials reported last week that over 20 people there who visited agricultural fairs with petting zoos have developed a kidney condition called [hemolytic uremic syndrome](http://www.about-hus.com/), or HUS — is a rare complication arising from an initial infection most commonly associated with a strain of E. coli known as [E. coli O157:H7](http://www.about-ecoli.com/). E. coli is a bacterium found in undercooked beef and contaminated food. It can live in the guts of cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants and can be picked up by petting, nuzzling or feeding the animals. The recent [Florida outbreak](http://www.fair-safety.com/fair-outbreaks/view/florida-state-fair-central-florida-fair-florida-strawberry-festival/) has been linked to petting zoos at local fairs. Many family members who are braving visits to petting zoos this spring are arming themselves with sanitizing wipes and making doubly sure that they as well as their children are practicing good hygiene. Local petting zoos are also implementing changes to make it easier for visitors to stay healthy. Last year in Virginia, 40 cases of E. coli O157:H7 were reported, but none could be linked to petting zoos, health officials said. In response to the scare in Florida, The Maymont Foundation has installed a dispenser of hand sanitizer at the feed machines around their Children’s Farm and put up signs reminding visitors to wash their hands after feeding and petting the animals. Traveling petting zoos, like Laughing Place in Chesterfield County, follow similar guidelines, and pass out hand sanitizers at birthday parties and other special events. Dr. Carl Armstrong, director of the office of epidemiology for the Virginia Department of Health, agrees with Wyatt. > *“There are lots of different forms of E. coli out there. We as human beings carry it,” he said. “And there are a number of different kinds of pathogenic E. coli that can cause disease. That’s what we are concerned about. But illness is easily prevented by good hygiene.” The most important thing, Armstrong said, is to wash hands often, especially before eating.* ### 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 48](https://marlerclark.com/nationwide-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-grimmway-farms-organic-baby-and-whole-carrots) [E. coli Outbreak tied to Red Cow and Hen House 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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. 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