| The Highest Quality, Award Winning Educational Animal Attractions  Phone: 541-512-1100 • Fax: 541-512-1800 • info@greatamericanpettingzoo.com |
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 The Great American Animal Entertainment Co. has provided the finest, high quality, petting zoos to fairs, festivals, and stock shows since 1984. We recognize the growing concern over E. coli 0157:H7 and other enteric animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans, and have been staying ahead of this issue for more than twenty years. That is one of the many reasons we are the number one petting zoo provider in the United States. We are working pro-actively on this issue to educate the public and ensure their safety. We have been following the same stringent cleaning and sanitization procedures since the founding of our company, and we are now working with the CDFA and IAFE to put into place a Serve Safe Animal Division Certification Program. This program would provide the opportunity for animal acts, animal exhibits, petting zoos, and animal rides to become certified attractions by following standardized operating, cleaning, and sanitation procedures. This way, the public and fair organizations will be assured that these certified attractions are operated by reputable companies using standardized guidelines. |
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What is E. coli? The bacteria named E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the intestines of all animals, including humans. The presence of E. coli and other kinds of bacteria within our intestines are necessary for us to develop and operate properly. |
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E. coli bacteria are everywhere in the environment, and since they are such a common occupant of all animals including people, anytime we eat something, drink something, or touch our hands to something that is either a part of or has been near where animals and people have been, there is always the potential to ingest these bacteria. A minority of E. coli strains are capable of causing human illness. E. coli 0157:H7 is a rare variety of E. coli that produces large quantities of potent toxins that cause severe damage to the lining of the intestine. E. coli 0157:H7 was first recognized as a pathogen in 1982 during an outbreak investigation of hemorrhagic colitis. It was not until 1993, after a large multi state E. coli 0157 outbreak linked to under cooked ground beef patties sold by a fast-food restaurant chain, that E. coli 0157 become broadly recognized as an enteric disease. Since then it is estimated that there are over 70,000 cases of illness caused by this bacteria each year in the United States. Almost all cases of E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses are associated with ingesting contaminated food or drink. |
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