Petting zoos may seem like the perfect opportunity to introduce kids to farm animals, but these creatures may possibly putting them in harm’s way of… germs. To what degree should parents be concerned? This past summer, a two-year-old child died after coming into contact with animals at the San Diego County Fair. Three other children under 13 reported contracting illnesses from the same location.
The source of the illness? E.Coli linked to contact with the fair’s animals.
Petting zoos are fairly popular. In summer and fall months, they’re a highlight at local fairs. Later in the year, they’re featured in festivals, pumpkin patches, schools, aquariums, even farmers’ markets. This family-friendly activity can turn dangerous when children come into contact with bacteria that causes serious illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Every year, many people get sick after visiting an animal exhibit. From 2010-2015, about 100 outbreaks of illness in people linked to animals in public settings like zoos, fairs, and educational farms were reported to public health officials.”
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