Petting zoos may be fun for the kids, but they are breeding grounds for bacteria that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, new research contends.
March 20, 2006 (Press Release) --
Among 991 visitors to six petting zoos in middle Tennessee, they found that 49 percent of visitors touched their face while in the petting zoo, 87 percent came into contact with environmental surfaces such as handrails or benches, 74 percent touched animals, and 22 percent ate or drank while in the area. In addition, 62 percent did not wash their hands after leaving the petting zoo.
"There is a lot that can be done to educate zoo operators and the public," said lead author Marcy McMillian, an epidemiologist at the Tennessee Department of Health.
"People need to know that they need to do handwashing and that when they touch environmental surfaces and the animals, they are potentially exposing themselves to pathogens," McMillian said.
One expert questions the need for petting zoos at all.
"The problem is that the public is not aware of the dynamic of infection," said Philip M. Tierno, Jr., the director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at New York University Medical Center. "It's not just on your hands. So, even if you wash your hands, you are not assured that you can't pick it up."
Tierno warns against eating while in the petting zoo. "Even if you think you have washed your hands correctly, you may not have, and you will directly ingest E. coli," he said.
Correct handwashing, according to Tierno, involves washing your hands the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice. "You have to wash in between your fingers, the top of your hands and under the nail beds," he said.
Tierno believes that it's not a good idea to feed or pet animals in these zoos. "You have too many pathogens that can create problems in people. It's not worth it," he said.
Another expert thinks petting zoos are fine if visitors take the proper precautions.
"Children shouldn't be denied the joy of petting zoos," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine. "After all, fraternizing with other people is also a potential source of bacterial contamination and potentially serious infection."
Source: http://www.msn.com/
"There is a lot that can be done to educate zoo operators and the public," said lead author Marcy McMillian, an epidemiologist at the Tennessee Department of Health.
"People need to know that they need to do handwashing and that when they touch environmental surfaces and the animals, they are potentially exposing themselves to pathogens," McMillian said.
One expert questions the need for petting zoos at all.
"The problem is that the public is not aware of the dynamic of infection," said Philip M. Tierno, Jr., the director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at New York University Medical Center. "It's not just on your hands. So, even if you wash your hands, you are not assured that you can't pick it up."
Tierno warns against eating while in the petting zoo. "Even if you think you have washed your hands correctly, you may not have, and you will directly ingest E. coli," he said.
Correct handwashing, according to Tierno, involves washing your hands the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice. "You have to wash in between your fingers, the top of your hands and under the nail beds," he said.
Tierno believes that it's not a good idea to feed or pet animals in these zoos. "You have too many pathogens that can create problems in people. It's not worth it," he said.
Another expert thinks petting zoos are fine if visitors take the proper precautions.
"Children shouldn't be denied the joy of petting zoos," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine. "After all, fraternizing with other people is also a potential source of bacterial contamination and potentially serious infection."
Source: http://www.msn.com/
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