Australia 17 Infected with E.Coli in Petting Zoo

Four days ago a woman and 3 children were infected with E. coli after petting animals at the Ekka show in Brisbane. The state's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young says a 33-year-old Brisbane woman and 3 children, aged 6, 11, and 12, are being treated, but are not in hospital. "They've obtained this infection and we know it is a very serious infection and potentially can cause significant problems," she told reporters. "It can cause severe bloody diarrhoea and there is a risk it can cause severe complications."

as of today there are 17 sick from shiga-toxin producing E. coli linked to the animal area at the Queensland state fair (EKKA}, neighboring Gold Coast says they’re boosting hygiene for their fair that starts Friday.

But it probably isn't enough, Queensland Health today confirmed that eight people have tested positive and another nine have reported symptoms.Gold Coast

“This year in keeping with the guidelines from Queensland Health we have actually put in more wash stations than Queensland Health has advised, in an effort to ensure the same unfortunate occurrence does not happen at our show,”  show marketing manager Leisa Martin said.

“So of course after you have been near the animals use one of the hand sanitiser stations that are nearby.”

The U.K. and many scientists say hand sanitizers are mostly useless in the presence of an organic matter.The recommended procedure is handwashing with soap and vigorously running water, followed by drying with paper towel is recommended procedure.

But bacterial can be present on many surfaces or even aerosolized so hand washing isn't always the answer. Maybe those guidelines should be updated.

Dr Young  “urged anyone who had been to the show and petted the animals to be cautious, especially people who work in childcare or in the food industry. "Anyone who's been to the Ekka, who went into the animal petting area along animal boulevard, and then developed persistent or bloody diarrhoea, should go and be checked out, particularly if the symptoms continue," she said.

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli is a very serious, very infectious type of bacteria and can spread easily from person to person without proper hygienic practices. In rare cases it can develop into a haemolytic-uremic syndrome, which affects the kidneys, and in some cases can be fatal.

Queensland Health is working with Biosecurity Queensland, the Ekka organizers, and their contractors to find the animals potentially carrying the bacterium.

Iit cannot be overstressed that all visitors to petting zoos, especially children, must wash their hands after exposure to animals.

A list of past petting zoo E. coli infections

. My feeling is that petting zoos should be banned. They are not worth a single child's death. You can’t depend on all children washing their hands no matter how many hand washing stations you put up.