At the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Tennessee Department of Health researchers reported that, of 1,700 visitors at petting zoos in central Tennessee, 62 percent did not use hand sanitizer stations after their visit.
Another report from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control found that 28 percent of visitors to the 2005 South Carolina State Fair did not use hand-washing facilities.
Visitors are reminded that improper sanitary habits could lead to bacterial infection, such as E.coli from petting zoo animals.