Reduce Risk Of Infection From Animals During Indiana Fair Season

ACROSS INDIANA— The Centers for Disease Control Prevention are urging visitors to animal exhibits and petting zoos at local fairs to take precaution, saying these can result in illness for human visitors. According to the CDC, animals can carry germs that are harmful to humans, even when the animals appear healthy and clean, ranging from illness such as minor rashes to serious infections.

Scientists estimate that over six out of 10 know infectious diseases in people are actually spread from animals, in addition to every three out of four new or emerging infectious diseases. The CDC adds every year, tens of thousands of Americans will get sick from diseases spread between animals and people, as more than 150 outbreaks of E. Coli, Salmonella and other infections associated with this contact in public settings have been reported to the CDC in the last 20 years.

This warning also comes as the CDC urgese those who handle or visit pig (swine) exhibits to take these swine flu precautions. Patch reported the CDC says the spread of swine flu viruses from a pig to a person is thought to happen the same way we spread human flu viruses, which is mainly through droplets when an infected pig coughs or sneezes.

RELATED: Swine Flu Protection Tips During Indiana's Fair Season

So who's at risk for these infectious diseases? According to the CDC, everyone, but the following groups have a high chance of contracting an illness:

• Children 5 years of age or younger
• Adults 65 years of age or older
• Pregnant women
• People with a weakened immune system (e.g., someone with HIV or a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy)

You can reduce your risk of getting or spreading these illnesses by proper handwashing with soap and water before and after interacting with the animals reduces your risk, the CDC said, adding that even if you do not touch them, you should still wash your hands.
Other important notes from the CDC:

• Diseases can be spread from direct and/or indirect contact, meaning touching an infected animal and coming into contact with saliva, blood, urine, nasal secretion, feces or other bodily fluid. Indirect contact means touching and interacting with areas where animals live and roam, or objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with germs.
• It's also important to avoid bringing and consuming food and drink around the animals.
• Design exhibits and zoos to separate animal areas from places where people eat. Use signs to point out the separate spaces.
• Children younger than 5 years old always need adult supervision in animal areas and should not put their thumbs, fingers, or objects such as pacifiers in their mouth when they're around animals or in an animal area, such as an empty livestock barn.
• Ensure that animals exhibited are healthy and are not showing signs of illness.
• Install handwashing stations at exits with proper signage. Make sure that some of the handwashing stations are low enough for children to reach.
• Use plain language and pictures to show visitors how to stay safe and healthy when visiting exhibits and zoos.

More: cdc.gov

Image via Renee Shiavone