E Coli Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark Law Firm : E. coli Blog

Two victims of the 2005 E. coli outbreak traced to a petting zoo at the Florida Strawberry Festival have resolved claims brought against the festival last week.

Both victims, a woman and a young child, suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome and required extensive medical treatment, including dialysis, after contracting E. coli O157:H7 at the 2005 Florida Strawberry Festival.

The 2005 Florida E. coli outbreak was the 16th documented outbreak traced to animal exposure at a fair or petting zoo since 2000, including a widely publicized E. coli outbreak in North Carolina that occurred just months before.
 

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Last year, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report encouraging venues where the public has contact with animals, such as fairs and petting zoos, to adopt standards, saying that "inadequate understanding of disease transmission and animal behavior can lead to infectious diseases, rabies exposures, injuries and other health problems among visitors, especially children, in these settings."

The single most important step to reduce risk is to have visitors wash their hands, says the Ventura County Star.

Hand washing is nothing new at the Ventura County Fair, which has washing stations at the entrances and exits to the animal areas. This year, however, McGuire said she's increasing the number of signs encouraging people to wash their hands.

She's also hoping to encourage people not to bring food into the animal areas, although that is not yet a requirement.

"We're not that strict yet," she said. "There are some fairs that don't allow food at all into the animal areas."

The CDC recommends that food and beverages not be allowed in animal areas.

"In addition," the CDC report states, "smoking, carrying toys, and use of pacifiers, spill-proof cups and baby bottles should not be permitted in animal areas."
 

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The N.C. Board of Agriculture has announced that they have approved rules governing animal exhibitions at agricultural fairs.

The rules are aimed at reducing the risk of diseases being transmitted from animals to people. The regulations were required under Aedin's Law, which the General Assembly enacted last year.

"Animals are an important part of any agricultural fair, and these rules will help protect fairgoers as they interact with animals at these events," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

The requirements include hand-washing facilities, a barrier between animal bedding and patrons to reduce contact with manure, increased signage warning of the risks associated with animal contact, and a prohibition on certain items, such as food, drinks, strollers and pacifiers, in animal areas.

The rules are based on guidelines developed by the department and state public health officials and used voluntarily by agricultural fairs last year.

The rules are scheduled to take effect on September 1.
 

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