Vidcast: https://youtu.be/PVtH56EdCSQ

Nasty bacteria are everywhere, and petting zoos turn out to have some of the nastiest.  An Israeli study of some 8 randomly selected petting zoos in that country reveals that an alarming number of animals are carrying drug resistant E. coli that can and do spread to human visitors. These results were presented this week at a meeting of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

The microbiologists collected some 380 samples from about 230 animals of varied species in the petting zoos and found that 12% of the animals were colonized with one or more strains of dangerous and antibiotic resistant E. coli.  These germs cause terrible diarrhea and urinary tract infections.

Most of the bacteria were predictably in feces, but nearly a quarter of the positive cultures came from the nimasls’ skin, fur, and feathers.

Most petting zoos I’ve visited in the US do have hand washing stations.  Even so, infants and toddlers who tend to lick and suck on their fingers before that can be cleansed should not touch any of the animals.  

Older children should be watched carefully, and parents should thoroughly wash everyone’s hands after the petting zoo visit.  One more thing: do not not consume any food near these animals.  The animals may be eating there but you shouldn’t since their germs could waft though the air into your lunch.

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. "Petting zoos could potentially transmit highly virulent drug-resistant bacteria to visitors." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 April 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190414111457.htm.

#Pettingzoo #ecoli #antibioticresistantbacteria #parenting #children #gastroenteritis