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Infants and Young Children Animal Safety TipsInfants and children less than 5 years old are more likely than most people to get diseases from animals. This is because young children often touch surfaces that may be contaminated with animal feces (stool), and young children like to put their hands in their mouths. Young children are less likely than others to wash their hands well. Objects such as pacifiers may fall to dirty surfaces and then be placed in an infant's mouth. For some animal diseases, young children are more likely than others to get very sick.
Tips to protect infants and young children from getting sick while handling animals:
Although this section focuses on how to protect children from diseases from animals, many groups support the health benefits of animals for people, including children. CDC recommends that infants and children under 5 years old avoid contact with the following animals:
Additionally, children less than 5 years old should be extra cautious when visiting farms and having direct contact with farm animals, including animals at petting zoos and fairs. CDC Reports and Recommendations Outbreaks and strategies related to farm visits and petting zoos. Outbreaks of escherichia coli O157:H7 infections among children associated with farm visits, Pennsylvania and Washington, 2000. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 20, 2001; 50(15):293-7. Outbreaks and recommendations related to chicks and ducklings. Salmonellosis associated with chicks and ducklings--Michigan and Missouri, Spring 1999. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report April 14, 2000; 49(14):297-9 Updated recommendations related to reptile-associated salmonellosis. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 12, 2003; 52(49):1206-1209.
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