Bring common sense to petting zoos

It’s county fair season, and every parent knows that every child loves to go to the petting zoo. Unfortunately, as with so many things in modern life, this innocent pleasure has hidden dangers (sigh), so keep in mind that some precautions are merited.

The main potential problem with petting zoos is the transmission of E. coli from animals to anyone with a weak immune system, such as young children, pregnant women or older people.

Nowadays, most petting zoos post signs reminding visitors to wash their hands thoroughly with soap  and water after touching the animals; and warning of the dangers of hand-to-mouth contact before the handwashing has been taken care of. Very young children, who have a tendency to reflexively pop their fingers in their mouths or who have pacifiers, should be watched especially carefully.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Infants and children less than 5 years old are more likely than most people to get diseases from animals. This is because young children often touch surfaces that may be contaminated with animal feces (stool), and young children like to put their hands in their mouths. Young children are less likely than others to wash their hands well. Objects such as pacifiers may fall to dirty surfaces and then be placed in an infant’s mouth. For some animal diseases, young children are more likely than others to get very sick.�

Keep in mind, too, that children love to pet animals on the nose and, for some creatures, this is an invitation to nibble on the child’s fingers. Remind youngsters that live animals are not the same as their cuddly stuffed counterparts and should be approached with respect. The CDC also warns that very young children might try to kiss the animals, which sounds silly but actually probably happens quite a lot.

Having said all  that, there’s no reason to worry unduly about the transmission of these illnesses, which health experts refer to as zoonotic diseases, and that mainly impact your digestive tract. But, as with everything in this 21st-century world, it’s not a bad idea to be a little cautious. Handwashing with warm water and soap is best; hand sanitizing gels or sprays work, too. If you have an open wound or cut on your hands, it’s best not to pet any of the animals (and definitely don’t let any animals lick you).

If there is an infection present in the animal corral, remember that it probably isn’t only on the animals. It’s probably also in their droppings, which can migrate onto shoes, posts and fences. Watch  what you touch, and give your shoes a good cleaning when you get home (and then wash your hands!).

How can you tell if you’ve picked up any pathogens from the animals? You’ll have stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea — and it could take as long as a week for those symptoms to show up.

There are also some concerns that an animal in a petting zoo can have rabies. Most petting zoos now require everyone to sign an information sheet so they can be contacted in case it’s discovered that one of the animals has the disease. Be aware that there are no rabies vaccines for goats, swine, llamas and alpacas. That doesn’t mean that these animals are more likely to be infected. But, again, be aware and take precautions when you think they’re appropriate.