CDC targets E. coli contamination at petting zoos

The Centers for Disease Control has issued federal guidelines for petting zoos after several outbreaks of E. coli

May 14, 2001
Web posted at: 2:38 PM EDT (1838 GMT)

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From Elizabeth Cohen
CNN Medical Unit

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- When Eileen Sweeney took her children Shannon and Michael to a Pennsylvania petting zoo last fall, it seemed like the perfect outing.

"It was October and we were going to the pumpkin patch and we petted the animals and went on a hay ride," Sweeney said. "We had a really good day."

E. COLI: Choose a link to learn more about the E. coli bacteria: What is it? Symptoms Associated foods Prevention Treatment People at risk Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention For more, launch our interactive guide to food poisoning.

But a couple of days later, Michael developed diarrhea. "And within days of his diarrhea, his diapers were filled with blood, pure blood," she said.

It got worse. Michael was rushed to the hospital and almost died.

"He was in full renal failure. We had to have the kidney team waiting for us, and he had to have immediate blood transfusions," she said.

Michael was diagnosed with E. coli poisoning, which investigators found in the animals at the petting zoo. His sister got sick too, but not as severely. In all, 51 people became ill after visiting the farm. The bacteria do not make animals sick.

The head of the farm says he had no idea people could get E. coli just by touching animals, and he's changing the zoo to "look but don't pet."

Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say this outbreak, and one last spring in Washington state at a petting zoo, are only the tip of the iceberg. Now the CDC has issued federal guidelines.

One recommendation is that the zoos provide a place for people to wash their hands. At the Pennsylvania farm, "hand-washing facilities lacked soap and disposable towels, were out of reach of children, were few in number, and unsupervised," according to the CDC report.

The CDC also recommends not letting people eat while having contact with animals.

"The children were becoming infected with the E. coli by petting the animals and placing their unwashed hands in and around their mouths, such as eating amongst the animals or just touching their mouths directly," said Dr. John Crump, Epidemic Intelligence Service officer with the CDC.

Most Escherichia coli bacteria live harmlessly in the intestines of healthy people and animals. In fact, we need E. coli to produce essential compounds like K- and B-complex vitamins.

In addition to contact with contaminated animals, E. coli bacterial illness can also be contracted from undercooked contaminated ground beef, unpasteurized milk and fruit juices, unwashed fruits and vegetables and swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water.

The best way to avoid E. coli infection is to wash fruits and vegetables and cook meats thoroughly before eating. Even the skins of watermelons and cantaloupes should be washed to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria.

People also need to be vigilant in hand washing, especially if a family member is sick.

Diagnosing E. coli infection can be tricky. There is usually little or no fever, and diarrhea may or may not be bloody. Abdominal cramps are common. Because of the danger of potentially fatal kidney failure, very young children and infirm adults who exhibit these symptoms should be tested for E. coli infection.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The E. coli Index (part of the WWW Virtual Library)

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