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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 11 27 Presentations 100 Petting Zoo CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS 112706_ COMM ]resentation _100 ]etting_ Zoo Page 1 of 1 COMMISSION AGENDA PRESENTATION ITEM 100 Consent Informational Public Hearin2 Re2ular November 27 , 2006 Regular Meeting Mgr. r~ Dept. Authorization REQUEST: City Manager requests the City Commission to hear a report from Dr. Ronald Brown regarding petting zoos. PURPOSE: This agenda item is needed to respond to a concern of a local citizen regarding the city's use of an animal petting zoo at the recent Home Town Harvest Event CONSIDERATIONS: At the October 24, 2006 City Commission meeting, Carla Wilson appeared before the city commission to express her concerns regarding the city's utilization of an animal petting zoo for kids at the Hometown Harvest Festival and presented the attached information substantiating her concerns. In response to Ms. Wilson's concerns, Dr. Ronald Brown, an expert in communicable diseases, was contacted to provide the Commission with an objective assessment of the issue. FUNDING: N/A RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Commission review Dr. Brown's report and provide staffwith the direction that it deems appropriate. ATTACHMENTS: Carla Brown's Supporting Information COMMISSION ACTION: PLEASE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS "P U B L I C IN PUT" R E QUE S T ETE THIS FORM IF YOU ARE ADDRESSING THE CITY COMMISSION ON ANY SUBJECT. NAME: Ccu-Ia IJJ/16on (Please Print) 1 D ~ Hl tt rhE rL ~Please Print) Wt~lIl fe fL 5,:; No7~ DATE OF THIS MEETING: fa! ~Jj/cJ(p I . t ADDRESS: l-n ' CITY: STATE: Fi-. ZIP CODE: jpqb~9317 ?V71JQ (Please Print) TELEPHONE NUMBER: To address the City Commission on a subject that is !!:!!1 on tonight's Agenda, please complete 1): 1) WHAT SUBJECT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION ABOUT: Perf( h:J 700 t>t-f mrre -/z>wn JflffV6-f eveYJ f To address the City Commission on any Agenda Item that is on Tonight's Agenda, please complete 2) through 4). 2) WHICH AGENDA ITEM DO YOU WISH TO COMMENT ON: 3) FOR THE RECORD, ARE YOU: IN FAVOR OPPOSED ~ 4) DO YOV VERBALLY ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION ABour THIS AGENDA ITEM? YES NO, I DO NOT WISH TO VERBALLY ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION NOTES: a) If you need additional space, please use the reverse side of this form. b) If you are giving any document(s) to anyone on the dais, the "Original" must be given to the City Clerk as the "copy of record" - and as everyone on the dais should receive the same information, please provide nine (9) of each document/item to the City Clerk c) If you are speaking on behalf of a group or organization, you will (usually) be given five (5) minutes to speak; otherwise, as an individual, you will (usually) be given three (3) minutes to speak. Thank you/or your participation. Bryan and Carla Wilson 702 Heather Lane Winter Springs, FL 32708 City of Winter Springs 21 Tarpon Circle, Winter Springs, Florida 32708 Dear Mayor and commissioners, My family is writing to you today as Winter Springs residents to express our concern about something that took place at the Hometown Harvest Celebration. The barnyard petting zoo. The other forms of entertainment at this function were great, but the petting zoo put a damper on the time there. Perhaps you remember the outbreak of the E. Coli bacteria that happened here in Florida in 2003 linked to animals at 3 different fairs. 26 people were sick with E. Coli including 23 children. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, people report illnesses related to petting zoos each year. Studies have shown that hand washing, which always isn't enforced, cannot prevent infection. In addition to the serious threat of illness, there is also the cruelty involved with petting zoos. We have heard claims that the animals are well cared for. The reality is that animals are being hauled to these events in extreme Florida temperatures and are put in an environment with loud music and sounds while strange little people pet and chase after them. A parking lot in a noisy, party atmosphere is no place for animals. We are asking the City of Winter Springs to adopt a policy banning live animal exhibits including petting zoos. With all of the other fun things that take place at these events, there isn't a need to have live animals. And with Winter Springs growing, that means more people, more stress on the animals, and more opportunity for something serious to happen. We hope that the petting zoo will not return next year, any live animals for that matter, We have enclosed some fact sheets for you on petting zoos, We look forward to hearing from you soon and would like to work with you to adopt this policy. Sincerely, Bryan and Carla Wilson CC: Mayor Bush, Commissioner Michael S. Blake, Commissioner Donald A. Gilmore, Commissioner Sally McGinnis, Commissioner Joanne M. Krebs People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 501 Front St. Norfolk, VA 23510 757-622-7382 PET A.org WildlifePimps.com HeaDb Hazards Of Pening Zoos faClSb881 Children who visit petting zoos often bring home more than their parents bargained for. Health officials indicate that petting zoos are hotbeds of serious pathogens, including E. coli and salmonella bacteria. Numerous children have been severely sickened as a result of visiting animal displays, and some have even died. Those who come in contact with E. coli can develop bloody diarrhea, anemia, chronic kidney failure, or neurological impairments such as seizures or strokes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kidney failure can occur and dialysis and transfusions are sometimes necessary. Some who are sickened by E. coli bacteria must undergo surgery to have part of the bowel removed. Petting zoos across the United States have been responsible for sickening visitors--most of them children. According to the CDC, every year, tens of th"u$ands .,f ~a$es .,f $alm.,nella and ~"untless ~a$es of E. coli are the result of casual animal contact. Experts warn that infections can spread through direct or even indirect animal contact; the area surrounding tbe animal's cage can be teeming witb bacteria, and cbildren can even bring it home on their clothing. July 2005: Two children were hospitalized with E. coli infections following a visit to a petting zoo in Arizona. One child came into direct contact with the animals in the petting zoo; the second child may have touched railings around the animals' enclosures. Fecal samples from the zoo yielded E. coli, leading zoo officials to close the zoo as well as the adjoining play area. June 25, 2005: The children's petting zoo at the Toledo Zoo was closed indefinitely after three animals tested positive for campyl()bacter. an infecti()U$ bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness. AprilS, 2005: An outbreak of E. c9li ~act~a in FI9rida wa~ definitively linked to animals from petting zoos at three fam.. Twenty-six people were confirmed stricken with the E. coli infection, including 23 children. Epidemiologists matcbed DNA .from E. colj bacteria in six animals -- two goats, two sheep and two cows - - to the DNA in the bacteria contracted by the victims. The six animals were all from the same company, Ag-Venture Farm Shows. December 16, 2004: State health officials reported 43 confirmed cases of E. coli and suspected 108 more cases in people who had visited a petting zoo at the North Carolina state fair. September 9, 2004: Although vaccinated, a horse in the Phoenix Zoo's petting area died of West Nile disease. A bird at the zoo died of the same disease earlier in the year. No vaccination is available for humans to prevent the mosquito- borne virus. August 5, 2004: The Fossil Rim Wildlife Center was placed on quarantine by the Texas Health Department after a sheep in its petting zoo died of rabies. Two children had to undergo painfuJ rabies treatment. Health officials stated that the disease can be transmitted through saliva (e.g., when an infected animal licks a person's face or an area where there are fresh wounds or broken skin). Transmission also can occur if a person kisses an infected animal on the face or lips. Officials asked that zoo visitors contact them for possible treatment. August 20, 2004: Canadian health officials issued a warning after six children became ill with suspected E. coli infections after visiting petting zoos in British Columbia. The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control wamtld that children under the age of six are especially vulnerable to complications from E. coli infections associated with close contact with animal$ in p~ng ZOOs. November 7, 2003: A 3-year- old girl and a 79-year-old man died after a 1999 outbreak of E. coli at the W~hingt9n C9!.lllty Fair outside Albany, New York. About 1,079 people were infected and 65 were hospitalized. In 2003, a class I-Ioolth ....07QrrI~ nf Dattinn 7^^C! e=o.....~h.aat _ D~.a 1 nf? _ Ilnt4o.~ lonf1eu',\, 11 ?nn~ action lawsuit filed by 122 victims was settled for $4 million. September 10, 2003: Twenty- two people were hospitalized, including 12 children who developed kidney failure, after being infected with E. coli at the 2002 Lane County Fair in Eugene, Oregon. It was thought that the bacteria made contact with visitors' hands by way of the dust in the sheep barn. Eighty-two people were sickened. August 16,2003: The Philadelphia Zoo closed two petting areas after two children, ages 3 and 5, who visited the zoo came down with E. coli intections and had to be hospitalized. August 1.7, 2002: An E. coli outbreak in Oregon, the largest in state history, sickened as many as 42 people who visited animal displays at a county fair. Four children were hospitalized. including three who had to be put in intensive care. July 23, 2002: Three children had to receive kidney dialysis after being infected with E. coli. Health oftkials suspect that the children were infected after visiting a New Zealand petting zoo. January 23, 2002: A 4-year-old girl had to undergo a kidney transplant after contracting E. coli at a petting zoo in the Philadelphia area. The girl was one of 16 children sickened in the fall of 2000 after visiting the facility. The girl's parents have sued the owners of the petting zoo. October 25,2001: An E. coli outbreak at an Ohio county fair sickened 41 people. August 14;, 2001: Atleast 2S people, including two children who became gravely ill, were sickened by E. coli infections after visiting a county fair in Wisconsin. Two hundred people reported symptoms associated with the outbreak. July 27, 2001: After an E. coli outbreak sickened 67 children at a petting zoo in Montgomery County. Pennsylvania. the Bethlehem Health Department issued strict regulations for petting zoos, including a prohibition on direct contact with animals. July 2001: In response to the CDC's report on E. coli outbreaks at petting zoos, the New York state Department of Agriculture issued recommendations for petting zoos, including the recommendation that band-- washing stations be made available to patrons. in an attempt to increase safety. The same month, the Washington State Department of Health also developed guidelines for petting zoos. Aprll 20, 2001: The CDC reported in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that 56 people. mostJy scbool- children-19 of whom were hospitalized-were siclcened with E. coli after visiting two petting zoos-one in Washington state and one in Pennsylvania. Aprll19, 2001: An Associated Press article stated that "about 70.000 cases of E. coli infection are reported in the U.S. annually, about 100 of them fataL Transmission usually comes through food and water, but exposure to animals is also a significant risk." November 7, 2000: As many as 21 children were infected with E. coli after visiting a Pennsylvania petting zoo. Two children. ages 3 and 4, had to be put on kidney dialysis. The petting zoo operators' 4-day-old son died two months earlier from a different strain of E. coli. June 9, 2000: Four children became sick from E. coli after visiting a Washington petting zoo. Another contracted E. coli from a sibling who had visited the zoo. August 30, 1999: As many as 650 people may have been exposed to rabies after having contact with a bear cub at an Iowa petting zoo. Several of these people had to undergo rabies vaccines. The bear cub later died of the disease. April 8, 1999: A Michigan petting zoo was sued after a 5- year-old child became ill from a salmonella infection after visiting the facility with his school. The child's mother reported that the child lost 8 pounds and had to be hospitalized. Seven children from another school Wer~ sickened with salmonella after a trip to the same petting zoo. March 24, 1996: At least 50 people were stricken with a particularly virulent type of salmonella after visiting a petting area at the Denver Zoo. Eight of the victims had to be hospitalized. I-Ioofth I-I070rl"l~ nf Oaffinn 7~ I:'o"""choot _ Dona ? n~? _ IlnAotorf '0'''''''01'\/ 11 ?nn~ Date: November 27, 2006 The attached was distributed to the City Commission during the discussion of Awards and Presentations Agenda Item "100", at the November 27,2006 City Commission Regular Meeting. PETTING ZOOS AND THE RISK OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE TRANSMISSION Presented to: The City Commission of Winter Springs, Florida By: Ronald D. Brown, MD Monday, November 27,2006 Note: This information has been compiled from a number of publicly available documents and sources and is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as expert medical opinion or medicaVlegal guidance for the purposes of establishing or enforcing any existing or proposed public policies. Page 1 of 4 Background - Recent Outbreak History . North Carolina - 2004 o 180 ill, 15 HUS, 1 renal failure requiring transplant o Resulted in CDC recommendations "Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Transmission Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2005" in March of 2005 . Florida - 3 fairs between Feb and March 2005 o 22 confirmed, 45 suspected, 12 HUS, 0 deaths . National - 2006 spinach o 199 ill, 31 HUS, 3 dead The Organism - Escherichia coli (E. coli) . Hundreds of different strains . Most are harmless and occur in human intestines, are part of normal digestive process . Strain 0157:H7 is potentially deadly, causes severe illness with kidney and brain damage and even death o Causes over 73,000 illnesses, 2100 hospitalizations and 61 deaths annually on average o Found in undercooked meat, raw milk, contaminated water o Also carried by many farm animals such as cows and goats · Animals do not appear ill and can shed bacteria intermittently in feces · Shedding highest when animals under stress e.g. confinement, transport, crowding, and during summer and fall o Organism can live for extended periods on animal skin, in animal bedding, and on inanimate objects such as fences and floors o Has been found on AC duct work 15 feet above stalls (aerosolization) and in soils and in sawdust on floor up to 42 weeks after event . Transmission via fecal oral route o Animal hair, fur, skin and saliva can become contaminated, infecting people who touch, pet or are licked by animals . Incubation period 2-10 days . Symptoms: severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever. o Mild cases last 5-10 days and resolve without medications, more severe cases can be life threatening o Can lead to HUS - Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Toxin produced by bacteria cause destruction of renal cells leading to acute renal failure. Mortality rate 3-5% . Most vulnerable: children < 5, elderly, pregnant women and anyone with a compromised immune system Note: This information has been compiled from a number of publicly available documents and sources and is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as expert medical opinion or medicaUlegal guidance for the purposes of establishing or enforcing any existing or proposed public policies. Page 2 of 4 Prevention - The Big Three 1. Information & Training a. Event organizers and volunteers i. Educate as to potential for disease transmission and importance of hand washing II. Need to prevent high risk activities such as children hugging or kissing animals III. Importance or separation of food/drink areas from animal areas iv. Proper handling and disposal of animal bedding and waste b. Visitors i. Signs posted at entrance explaining potential risk of disease transmission and how to avoid such risks. ii. Advise certain groups at risk i.e., very young, very old, pregnant, immunocompromised, to weigh benefit vs. risk III. Signs at exit stressing importance of hand washing and avoidance of hand-mouth activities (thumb-sucking) until hands are adequately washed 2. Limit contact a. Prohibit certain things in animal areas: strollers, pacifiers, baby bottles, or toys b. No food or drinks should be allowed in animal area c. Food preparation and vending areas should be well away from animal areas d. Discourage certain activities: hugging or kissing animals, picking up or playing with bedding materials, feed or manure 3. Hand washing a. Single most important element in prevent disease transmission b. Hand washing stations should be set up at transition or exit area i. Should be numerous to avoid long waits that might discourage use ii. Disposable towels III. Liquid or foam soap vs. hand gels iv. Pressurized vs. holding tank to facilitate debris removal v. Children under 5 should have assistance from adult c. Signs at exit area stressing importance of hand washing i. Information on signs and symptoms of E. coli disease and numbers to call for additional information e.g. local health department Note: This information has been compiled from a number of publicly available documents and sources and is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as expert medical opinion or medicaVlegal guidance for the purposes of establishing or enforcing any existing or proposed public policies. Page 3 of 4 About the author - Ronald D. Brown MD, received a BS in Biology from the University of Central Florida, his MD from the University of South Florida and his MBA from the Crummer School of Business at Rollins College. An emergency medicine specialist, he has practiced in the Orlando area since 1981. He served as the Medical Director for the Seminole County Emergency Medical Services system for over 15 years. Dr. Brown is currently the Principal Investigator for CDC- sponsored smallpox and anthrax vaccination studies based in Altamonte Springs, Florida. In addition, he is the founder and Managing Partner of AeroClave, LLC, a company that develops and manufactures large scale decontamination devices. He lives in Maitland, Florida with his wife and three daughters. Dr. Brown may be reached via e-mail at rbrownav.aeroclave.com or via phone at 407- 788-3300. Note: This infonnation has been compiled from a number of publicly available documents and sources and is meant for infonnational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as expert medical opinion or medicaVlegal guidance for the purposes of establishing or enforcing any existing or proposed public policies. Page 4 of 4