338760
Cluster of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli associated with a suburban daycare and petting farm in Michigan
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
: 1:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Veronica Fialkowski, MPH,
Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Section, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Lansing, MI
Kimberly Signs, DVM,
Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Section, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Lansing, MI
In October 2013, a cluster of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was investigated in Michigan. There were four laboratory confirmed cases and one epidemiology linked case with a compatible illness. The median age was 6 years (range 3-18); 80% were female. Interviews of ill persons suggested a common source of one suburban establishment with three components: a daycare, summer day camp, and petting farm. The daycare had over 300 children enrolled with ages ranging 2.5 to 6 years of age and the day camp could accommodate up to 280 visitors per day. The farm had over 130 animals, which included 37 ruminants and 68 avians. Children had regular animal interactions, including holding and feeding the animals, as well as treating sick animals. Animals could be checked-out for overnight visits at home. Environmental samples and animal stool samples were collected randomly at the farm, but all tested negative for STEC at the Michigan Bureau of Laboratories. This outbreak highlights the increasing importance of the risk of zoonotic disease transmission from animals in the petting farm environment.
Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the zoonotic disease risks and exposures associated with a daycare/petting farm.
Keyword(s): Epidemiology, Veterinary Public Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I currently am working at the MDHHS in a 2 year post-master's degree epidemiology fellowship. The focus area of my fellowship is zoonotic/vectorborne disease epidemiology. The fellowship is designed to train recent post-master's graduates in the expanding field of applied epidemiology with a goal to provide a high quality training. My primary mentor is Kimberly Signs, DVM, a senior zoonotic disease epidemiologist, with over ten years of experience in zoonotic disease surveillance and outbreak investigation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
