E. coli Cases Linked to Petting Zoo (Again) in North Carolina
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Cases of confirmed E. coli contamination have authorities looking at a Pitt County petting zoo as a possible source. The Pitt County Health Department tells WITN News that the petting zoo in question is located at Briley's Farms on Highway 264. The Beaufort County Health Department says two children infected with E. coli visited the same zoo and the Pitt County health authorities shut down the that portion of Briley's as a precaution. The other parts of Briley's are not effected, Beaufort County says it is working with health care providers to identify and test additional suspected cases.
This should not come as a surprise. E. coli outbreaks have been linked to petting zoos for years. See, Known Cases of Zoonotic Pathogen Outbreaks Associated with State and County Fairs, Petting Zoos, and Community Activities Involving Human-Animal Contact
The IA law that states:
WARNING
UNDER IOWA LAW, A DOMESTICATED ANIMAL PROFESSIONAL IS NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES
SUFFERED BY, AN INJURY TO, OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT
RISKS OF DOMESTICATED ANIMAL ACTIVITIES, PURSUANT TO IOWA CODE CHAPTER 673. YOU ARE
ASSUMING INHERENT RISKS OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS DOMESTICATED ANIMAL ACTIVITY.
Is exemplary and should be applied nationwide. It is not fair to USDA licensed facilities to be held responsible when many parents and people refuse to follow hand washing and sanitizing procedures. I have seen attendants try to insist hands be cleaned and the participants get belligerent and refuse to clean hands or make comments that are very unkind toward the operators for insisting hands be cleaned. Signage and sanitizer should be more than enough- it is time people accepted responsibility for their own inaction and own body (ies).