The end of the petting zoo?
Will small children be stopped from touching animals?
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By inthenews. |  |
Saturday, 19, Sep 2009 11:34
By Alistair Potter.
A leading microbiologist has called for parents to stop their toddlers from touching animals as fears grow over the spread of E.coli bacteria from petting zoos.
Professor Hugh Pennington believes preventing under-fives from coming into contact with animals will go a long way to preventing the spread of the disease, which has caused at least four sites to be closed recently.
A farm in Devon was shut on Friday to make it the fourth establishment in the space of a week to be closed after reports of E.coli infections.
And Professor Pennington believes preventing children from touching animals will help because they are "the most difficult part of the population to get to wash their hands".
While he stopped short of advising parents to avoid petting zoos altogether, Professor Pennington said adults should "think very hard" about letting their youngest children come into contact with animals because they are "the people most at risk".
He also called on current guidelines over E.coli prevention to be investigated.
"Clearly I think the public expects that we have a really good look at the guidelines," he said.
"And also to look at the way the guidelines are being implemented - it's all very well having guidelines if people are not following them."
The news follows Friday's latest development, when World of Country Life in Exmouth voluntarily closed its petting areas and deer ride attraction following E.coli infections in three children who visited the farm in August.
The farm has not been confirmed as the source of the outbreak although Health Protection Agency officials are investigating.
White Post Farm in Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, Godstone Farm in Surrey and its sister farm - Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom - have also closed.