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Safety Guidelines for Attending Animal Exhibits

By PritzkerLaw

The primary reservoir for E. coli O157:H7 is ruminant livestock. And although the most common route of infection in humans is foodborne, a significant number of illnesses each year are caused by contact with animals.

With Colorado health officials currently investigating a possible link between a growing number of E. coli O157:H7 infections and attendance at the National Western Stock Show in Denver,  the food safety lawyers at PritzkerOlsen Attorneys present the following guidelines for families attending animal shows, exhibits or petting zoos in 2009.

The guidelines are combined from sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Ag Safety Database:

                      Safety Guidelines

• Locate hand-washing stations and always wash your hands after being in an area with animals, even if you don't touch them. Bacteria can be spread even by shaking hands or touching railings.
• Running water and soap are best. Where there is no running water, hand sanitizing gel is better than nothing.
• Don't consume food or drinks in any area shared with animals.
• Older adults, pregnant women and young children should be extra careful with hygiene around animals.
• Avoid hand-mouth activities such as smoking, drinking or using a pacifier in any area shared with animals.
• Do not eat or drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or other dairy products.
• Children younger than 5 years old need adult supervision around animals.
• Never allow children to put their hands, toys or other objects in their mouths while around animals.
• Supervise the hand washing of children.
• Even after hand washing, be aware that exposure to E. coli O157:H7 can come from shoes, contaminated clothing or even strollers that were in areas shared with animals.

PritzkerOlsen currently is representing victims of the nationwide Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter and peanut products made by Peanut Corporation of America at a plant in Blakely, Georgia. Firm president Fred Pritzker is representing the families of two Minnesota women who died in the outbreak after consuming contaminated peanut butter served on toast.

In one case, Pritzker already has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Peanut Corporation of America and King Nut Companies, a distributor of the peanut butter. A second wrongful death action will commence soon in connection with the second death.

PritzkerOlsen has considerable experience and a reputation for success in representing survivors of foodborne illnesses, including E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella and Shigella. The firm is involved in virtually every national outbreak and has collected large sums on behalf of people injured or killed by adulterated food.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on February 05, 2009 (boomark / email).