Special Agent Oso Feeds a Llama at the Petting Zoo
I want a llama. Or so I’ve been telling Doug ever since I saw Tina the lasagna-eating llama in one of my favorite films, Napoleon Dynamite. Now we have a baby and our lifestyle is not compatible with llama tending.
This morning when Sorenne and I got up, we turned on the Disney channel to watch Special Agent Oso. The episode, “A Zoo to a Thrill” showed Oso helping June Kim feed a llama at the petting zoo. Special Agent Oso always has to accomplish “three special steps” in each of his missions. This time it was:
- step one: get the llama food
- step two: wait your turn in line
- step three: feed the llama.
Not included in the steps, but clearly shown in the episode were washing hands before getting the llama food and after feeding the llama. Our veterinary friend Kate Stenske told us that washing your hands before handling the animals is a question of not transmitting whatever you have to the animals and washing them afterwards is about not transmitting what the animal has to you.
I was especially pleased in this episode to see that June Kim’s father stayed outside of the petting zoo area while he fed his baby a bottle. Bottles and pacifiers are at high risk for cross-contamination in such areas because some of the pathogens can be aerosolized.
If Sorenne wants to meet a llama, I may take her to a petting zoo someday, or to our friend and contractor Russell’s house. We’ll try to make sure she washes her hands so her first visit to a zoo does not give her a bad thrill.
All UK E. coli petting zoo kids released from hospital - illness toll remains 93
The final two children who remained in hospital following the E.coli outbreak at a Surrey farm have finally been allowed home, more than a month after the site was shut down by health officials.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said on Tuesday that the total number of E.coli cases linked to Godstone Farm still stood at 93, adding that "all children have been discharged from hospital."
Twin brothers Aaron and Todd Furnell, from Paddock Wood in Kent (right) underwent dialysis at St Thomas's Hospital in London after falling ill with the O157 strain of the infection following a visit to Godstone Farm.
Two-year old Aaron Furnell spent six weeks in hospital; he still has to be fed food through a tube.
The site closed on September 12, two weeks after the first case of E.coli was reported there.
A third out of 102 samples taken from animals were found to contain E.coli 0157, and the chief executive of the HPA, Justin McCracken, admitted the agency should have acted quicker in shutting the farm.
An independent investigation has been commissioned and will be led by George Griffin, professor of infectious diseases and medicine at St George’s, University of London, and chair of the advisory committee on dangerous pathogens.
Families affected will be asked if they want to have their say during the probe, which will look at how Godstone Farm was being operated, according to the standards and guidance set for open farms, and the response to the outbreak from all relevant parties.
Legal action is also being planned by some parents of children who were left seriously ill.
A spokesman for Godstone Farm said a decision on when the site will re-open could be made later this week.
E. coli petting zoo delusion in the UK
This is how delusional some folks are about E. coli O157 in the U.K.
The Exmouth Herald reports that Nigel Lee, who runs the World of Country Life, has slammed the hype surrounding an E.coli scare as ridiculous after being told he can reopen all attractions following an investigation.
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The U.K. Health Protection Agency recommended Lee close the animal portion of his attraction three weeks ago after three children who contracted the O157 strain of E. coli had potential links to the farm.
Of 30 samples collected from sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, pigs and an empty calf pen, E. coli was detected in eight representing a mixed group of sheep, goats, chickens and also contained a rabbit.
A further positive result was found in a sample from a pig pen. Following the examination, the HPA advised the attractions could be re-opened.
Mr Lee was pissed with the HPA after they issued an incorrect media statement three weeks ago which implied the site was completely closed, stating,
"All the hype just got ridiculous. It was just the petting farm and deer train ride that was closed.”
Apparently Lee thinks sick kids is hype, and what about the 8 out of 30 positive samples?
Below is a table of petting zoo outbreaks, largely adopted from a list Bill Marler collected.
New Food Safety Infosheet:Over 70 children ill from E. coli O157:H7 in two separate petting zoo outbreaks
Petting zoos, farm visits and local fairs are all settings for pathogen risks, especially for kids. Scott Weese at wormsandgerms detailed some of the risks in action that he saw recently at an Ontario site. Media reports out of the UK suggest that in the wake of the recent farm visit-linked outbreak with over 60 children ill with E. coli O157, agritourism business is down. Another 13 kids are also ill in outbreak linked to the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver.
Handwashing can reduce the risk of E. coli O157, but signs and sinks do not make people wash their hands. Operators and volunteers need to be diligent in promoting the importance of handwashing as infection control with patrons and staff and compel folks with creative messages.
CDC has a publication that operators should check out on managing public-animal contact risks (scroll down to the bottom of the page). We've combined some of that information and added our barfblog flare to come up with this week's food safety infosheet, which is downloadable here.
Animals test positive for E. coli O157 on Godstone Farm in Surrey, now linked to illness in 67 kids
The BBC is reporting that lambs, pigs, goats, cattle, ponies and rabbit droppings at a Surrey farm at the centre of an E.coli outbreak have tested positive , with a whopping 33 of 102 samples likely to contain the O157 strain of the infection.
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The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the total number of E.coli cases linked to Godstone Farm had risen to 67.
Eight children remain in hospital in a "stable or improving condition."
Petting zoo zebra bites North Carolina girl's finger off
While attending K-State as a veterinary student, I’ve had the chance to observe many clinical cases in the teaching hospital ranging from a broken puppy leg to a zebra exam. That’s right, a zebra. Last fall a zebra from a zoo came into the hospital, and upon hearing about it, I quickly went down to its stall to take a look at the animal up close. I quickly found out that ‘close’ was a rela
tive term when it comes to zebras, as the animal was in a very secure pen with a large sign that read: “Caution: zebra is aggressive.” Who would’ve thought that a wild animal would be… wild? I left the hospital that day without any injuries, but unfortunately a little girl (right) in North Carolina found out how wild zebras really are when she left a petting zoo without half a finger.
According to the news story, nine-year-old Elizabeth was hand feeding a zebra at a petting zoo when it took off nearly all of her right pinkie finger. "It actually grabbed onto my hand and took it back a little bit. My papa had to smack it a few times to get my hand back. I was really scared," she said. Elizabeth is recovering with her bandaged half-pinkie and she’s also receiving a series of seven rabies shots.
"I stil
l couldn't believe it happened. It's not something you hear every day that your daughter's finger has gotten bitten off by a zebra," explained Elizabeth's mom, Kristy Ross (left). "I just assumed if they're giving me the food to feed them it will be OK. It's going to be safe."
Unfortunately those assumptions didn’t protect the little girl from the zebra. I can see the appeal of feeding goats and sheep, but zebras?! They’re unpredictable animals and have been known to rear up and kick or bite attackers when cornered. In the case of Elizabeth in NC, there’s not just one person to blame. The petting zoo owner admitted that two kids and one volunteer have been bitten in the last couple of years at his zoo, yet he didn’t remove the zebra from the exhibit. Maybe the owner should replace it with a Tijuana zebra. And as Elizabeth’s mom incorrectly assumed, being given food to feed a zebra doesn’t automatically make the zebra safe.
Animal behavior problems aside, I wonder how many of the petting zoo animals are infected with E. coli? Are there hand washing stations nearby?
To the right is a picture I took at the state fair last year. Luckily I wasn't bit.
Parents upset at U.K. petting zoo and farm visit; dozen kids in hospital with E. coli
In the fall of 1998, I accompanied one of my five daughters on a kindergarten trip to the farm. After petting the animals and touring the crops --I questioned the fresh manure on the strawberries --we were assured that all the food produced was natural. We then returned for unpasteurized apple cider. .jpg)
The host served the cider in a coffee urn, heated, so my concern about it being unpasteurized was abated. I asked: "Did you serve the cider heated because you heard about other outbreaks and were concerned about liability?" She responded, "No. The stuff starts to smell when it's a few weeks old and heating removes the smell."
I’m all for farm visits, local markets, petting zoos, but I want the operators to have a clue about the dangerous bugs that make people – especially little kids – sick.
The Brits are particularly pissed that Godstone Farm in Surrey, which appears to be the source of 36 E. coli O157 illnesses, including 12 kids in hospital, stayed open as long as it did.
The Telegraph reports this morning,
As many as 18,000 people were allowed to visit the farm, where children are allowed to touch and feed animals including geese, goats and llamas, in the nine days after health protection officials became aware of a possible risk.
A total of 36 people have been taken ill with the potentially lethal bacterial infection including 12 children who are in hospital.
Four of the children are said to be in a serious condition after developing complications such as kidney failure as well as diarrhoea.
Among those being treated in hospital are Tracy Mock's two-year-old twin sons who visited the attraction on Aug 31 while her five-year-old daughter is also ill.
"If they had just shut the place down to investigate, my sons would not be in hospital on kidney dialysis machines," Miss Mock, from Kent, told the BBC.
"They are still in hospital, my partner and I are taking turns to be there with them. One has had a blood transfusion.
Neil Wilson’s six year-old nephew Tommy contracted E-coli after visiting the farm and is now in hospital in Sidcup suffering from kidney failure.
Mr Wilson said: "I can’t understand why they didn’t shut down that area of the farm until they found out exactly what the problem was.
"I just think they kept it open because it was the school holidays.”
Richard Oatway, the farm’s manager, said he had complied with everything officials had asked him to do and would not reopen until given the all-clear.
Dick, I want to ask you a few questions about verotoxigenic E. coli and ruminants.
Here’s a video about petting zoo safety we did a couple of years ago.
Petting zoos and poo
A few years ago I experienced the Exciting and Educational Adventure that is the Elmvale Jungle Zoo in Ontario. It was a blast. The zoo has any animal you can think of: lions, tigers and, not bears, but giraffes, monkeys, lemurs and more. My favourite part was the goat pen where visitors get a hands-on chance to pet and feed goats.
Soon after I started working with the barfblog crew, Ben, appalled that I loved petting zoos, explained to me the many opportunities for disease transmission in these zoos. Sadly, the goat pen was exactly that. When feeding the cute goats they tend to jump up, getting poop all over the place. My hoodie was covered.
The CDC has released recommendations for petting zoo operators to reduce the risk of infection, reports the United Press International.
[R]isks can be minimized by measures such as washing hands, providing adequate soap and paper towels and providing signs reminding visitors to wash their hands upon leaving the animal contact area and guiding them on proper hand washing techniques.
Since 1996, disease outbreaks [associated with animal settings] involving hundreds of people have been reported, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and Campylobacter.
I can’t recall if there were handwashing stations throughout the zoo, but I remember the friendly parrot that said goodbye when visitors left.
Amy, please take me to the zoo. I’ll wash my hands.
Are petting zoos safe for kids?
Last week, an E.coli outbreak involving at least 17 kids and 3 adults was linked to a Denver cattle show.
In light of that, a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News spent a day at the petting zoo at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo asking parents if they were worried about the "germs" their kids were being exposed to.
Some said yes; many others were confident in the precautions they were taking.
The stepfather of a three-year-old wasn't worried. "We wash his hands," he said.
One mother said of her thumb-sucking two-year-old,
“I can’t keep her in a bubble. [But] it’s definitely something I think about every day with her.”
One of the largest petting zoo outbreaks of E.coli O157:H7 to date was linked to the North Carolina State Fair in 2004. A study of the outbreak by Goode and colleagues found,
Persons became infected after contact with manure and engaging in hand-to-mouth behaviors in a 
petting zoo having substantial E coli O157:H7 contamination.
Use of alcohol-based hand-sanitizing gels was not protective [against infection with E.coli O157:H7], although knowledge of the risk for zoonotic infection was protective.
Are petting zoos safe for kids? Maybe, if you're aware of the risks and make sure they don't eat any poop. But that might be easier said than done.
In the San Antonio article, Bill Marler was quoted as saying the threat of exposure to new and dangerous pathogens was too high for him to risk taking a small child or anyone with a compromised immune system to a petting zoo.
It's your call.
