Petting Zoo Safety

In a recent article about petting zoo safety, Dr. Jeanne Ellen Hyrciuk, MD, FCAP, discussed how to safeguard against the hazards of disease-inducing bacteria after contact with petting zoo animals and look out for signs of illness such as nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea or fever.
With the rise in popularity of petting zoos, there will be increased potential for the rise of e-coli and salmonella infections, mostly as a result of people not washing their hands, especially young children who are susceptible to putting their hands in their mouths.
Taking the simple precautions of washing immediately after visiting a petting zoo and not preparing food with hands that have touched potentially infectious animals can make all the difference.