Illness Prevention

A typical county fair brings hundreds of livestock and other domesticated animals in close proximity of people. These animals are generally healthy but occasionally may be shedding (defecating) disease-causing bacteria.  Because zoonotic diseases (e.g. diseases transmitted from animals to people) – like Salmonella and E. coli O157 – are commonly found in the feces of farm animals like cattle, sheep and goats, it makes sense to take some common sense precautions to protect you and your family. 

Here are some basic precautions you can take

(Excerpted and modified from Appendix B MMWR 2009).

• Know that animals can carry germs that can make people sick
• Never eat, drink, or put things into your mouth in areas where animals are displayed
• Older adults, pregnant women, and young children should be careful around animals
• Wash your hands with soap and water right after touching animals or their surroundings

Things that Petting Zoo or Animal Exhibit Operators can do:

• During visits to the petting zoo, venue operators should consider: Measures that prevent the spread of germs such as frequent surface disinfection, monitoring the type of animal/human interactions, and appropriately stocking hand washing and sanitation stations. Hand-to-mouth activities such as eating, drinking, smoking, carrying toys and pacifiers should be discouraged in the animal contact areas (MMWR Weekly, 2009).
• Animal Care and Management: Animals that are actively shedding (e.g. defecating) human pathogens should not be exhibited in fairs and petting zoos.  This is especially important for animals with diarrhea (scours). 
• Manure management:  Sanitary removal of animal manure, followed by sanitation of traffic areas and holding bins is essential to prevent environmental contamination.
• Dust control: Some bacteria can survive drying.  Hence, dust on contaminated surfaces can result in human illness through hand-to-mouth contact or occasionally if dust is stirred up. 
• Cleaning up animal areas: Disinfect contact surfaces.
• Designating contact and eating areas: Farm animal contact areas should be separated from the food service area. Animal petting should be allowed only in the animal interaction area, under close supervision of parents, guardians and the venue operator.  Double barriers should be provided to separate contact between animals and their environment and food area (MMWR Weekly, October, 2001).
• Hand washing facilities: At each entrance to an animal holding areas, visitors should be aware of the potential risks from animal contact and take measures to reduce that risk.  Visitors need to wash or sanitize their hands upon exiting to the animal contact area. Hand washing facilities should ideally have running water, be well stocked with soap and paper towels, and accessible to small children.  The facilities should be readily visible and able to handle the maximum anticipated attendance. Communal basins are not adequate hand washing facilities (MMWR Weekly, October, 2001). For information on appropriate hand washing, please see the CDC’s page on clean hands.
• Information should be provided:  Wherever there is public access to farm animals, information about the risk associated with the transmission of pathogens should be provided to all visitors. This may include signage before entering or video or audio informational pieces.  For pre-arranged school visits a mailed informational sheet for parents is a good idea.  An effort should be made to ensure that the visitors are aware that animals such as calves, young ruminants (i.e. sheep and goats), young poultry, and ill animals may pose a threat to human health and that appropriate hand washing can minimize that risk. 
• Heightened precautions should be applied to high-risk groups: Children under age of five years, people with waning or compromised immune systems, and pregnant women are potentially at greater risk for serious infections, and hence should strictly follow the precautions outlined. 

Even the Environment can be Contaminated

Even if you do not touch the animals, the environment that the animal lives in can be contaminated by germs.  This means that hand washing is still critical when visiting areas where animals reside even though you never touch the animals.  Also, this is another reason to not eat when visiting animal contact areas.  Eating and food preparation should be done in separate areas.

Visiting the Farm

Several outbreaks have been linked to children visiting farms.  Agents identified in these outbreaks include E. coli O157, Cryptosporidium, Salmonella, and Campylobacter.  The risks to visitors and farm families include direct contact with animals shedding potential pathogens, contaminated environment, and consumption of contaminated products.  One of the chief areas of concern has been the consumption of raw milk (i.e. unpasteurized milk).  Additional information about the risks of raw milk are available at Real Raw Milk Facts
Some general precautions for visitors and farm families include the following:

1. Be aware of the potential risks
2. Practice good hand hygiene
3. Supervise young children
4. Do not eat in animal contact areas
5. Wash clothes and shoes after a visit
6. Pregnant women should avoid contact with newborns (born within 6 hours) or their birthing fluids
7. Never drink unpasteurized milk

Swine influenza and County Fairs

Rare human cases of influenza viruses from swine have been reported.  In recent years more cases are being reported likely due to improved diagnostic tests and clinical awareness.  The majority of these are associated with swine contact.  This includes interaction occupationally with swine on farms or visiting swine at county fairs.  A review of cases of swine influenza identified 50 cases worldwide since the late 1960s. Some of these cases are fatal. It has been recommended that swine workers should be vaccinated with the annual seasonal influenza vaccine.  In addition, folks who are ill with influenza-like symptoms should refrain from swine contact.  This includes visitors to swine exhibitions such as County Fairs.  Some guidelines have been recently provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Addendum

Signs and Posters for hand hygiene and recommended precautions for preventing the spread of pathogens at animal exhibits, from the National Association of Public Health Veterinarians are available online.

Also check with your State or Local Health Department.

An example of a State law

Aedin’s Law:  A North Carolina law passed in honor of 2-year-old Aeden Gray of Orlando, Fla., one of 15 children whose exposure to E. coli O157:H7 at the North Carolina State Fair led to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and kidney failure.