ORLANDO, Fla. "” Nine children were hospitalized, two in critical condition, with a life-threatening kidney ailment after visiting petting zoos in Florida. The total increased after two more children were diagnosed on Thursday, officials said.
There were fears the number of children suffering from the rare disease "” hemolytic uremic syndrome (search), or HUS "” would continue to grow. HUS, which generally affects children up to 10 years old, attacks and shuts down the liver and also disrupts blood circulation, which can lead to multiple organ failure.
The afflicted children had all touched animals at fairs, including the Central Florida Fair (search) in Orlando and the Florida Strawberry Festival (search) in Plant City. Officials said the children may have been exposed to E. Coli bacteria after petting the animals and then putting their fingers in their mouths, while eating, for example.
In addition to those hospitalized, two children and an adult showing symptoms of HUS were under observation, said Dr. Mehul Dixit, who is treating some of the children at Florida Hospital Orlando (search).
Florida Department of Health officials advised people to watch their children for symptoms including bloody diarrhea, lethargy, anemia and decreased urine output. Doctors warned that HUS can spread quickly and easily.
Officials also suggested that anyone visiting a petting zoo wash their hands with hot, soapy water after touching animals. A change of clothing was also suggested, and dirty clothing should not be worn until it was washed and soaked in hot water.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said state veterinarians are tracking down the animals so they can be inspected to determine what infections, if any, might have been transmitted.
Veterinarians also are reviewing sanitary measures at the petting zoos
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Very unusual story. Most petting zoos I have been to usually have handwash stations to use after you get through. Makes me wonder how "clean" this place is.
This wasn't the Death Wish petting zoo, was it? I heard they were trying to introduce new types of animals to children at the petting zoo. I also heard the scorpions and rattlesnakes weren't very successful.
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You may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride!
Clearly the animals are all feral and should be shot; they "have no more business" in that zoo than a stray dog.
The parents should be charge with criminal negligence.
I submit that it would be better to allow the animals to starve to death, because you love them, charge the parents with criminal negligence, because you love them, and force them to take 6 weeks of "why crossbows are good for archery" classes.
Very unusual story. Most petting zoos I have been to usually have handwash stations to use after you get through. Makes me wonder how "clean" this place is.
My thoughts also.
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Very unusual story. Most petting zoos I have been to usually have handwash stations to use after you get through. Makes me wonder how "clean" this place is.
Brings up an interesting point regarding how "sissified" our systems are becoming because of all our highly processed foods.
If all those kids that went there TODAY, did so around 100 years ago, they would have all died.
Immune systems are becoming weak because of pampering them with all this pre-processed crap.
You bring up an interesting point Tard, as a kid on the farm we rarely took the opportunity to wash our hands during the day except before meals. The rest of the day was spent working with animals and in or around the barn getting filthy with Lord knows what kinds of "Stuff". Our hands inevitably came into contact with face, mouth and eyes during this time and nobody ever became ill with even minor consequences let alone something that potentially could kill.
I believe the natural immunity to disease from early and repeated exposure to various forms of bacteria helped us not only then but in later years as well. I have traveled fairly extensively around the world and have worked in a number of so called third world countries, eating and drinking with relative impunity to food and water borne critters that cause many folks a lot of grief. There was one occaision when working in Mexico (yes I had a Green Card) that after eating in a seafood restaurant one evening, the entire crew of Mexican nationals I worked with were debilitated the next day while I had no ill effects at all. Go figure.
Kids getting sick at petting Zoo
