Petting zoo results in death of toddler

E. coli in reality is actually usually harmless, and it makes up 0.1 percent of your gut flora. It can even be beneficial, producing vitamin K2, and preventing pathogenic bacteria from making a home in your lower intestine and causing all manner of sickness.

It’s the bad kind of E. coli you have to watch out for. E. coli is rugged virus that can survive for a while outside the body, which is why it is so effective at spreading to other animals or humans. It is contracted through fecal to oral transmission. E. coli in some cases can even last for an extended period of time outside of a body, making it even more effective as a disease.

How do you avoid coming down with an E. coli infection? First, pay attention to risk factors. If you eat undercooked meat, drink tainted water, or consume unpasteurized dairy products, you’re more at risk of getting an E. coli infection. Also, if you work around livestock, you need to take extra precautions as you are likely to be around fecal matter all the time, and the slightest amount of contact can result in E. coli transmission.

E. coli can be prevented by regularly washing your hands. You can also avoid it by being careful with foods. Don’t cross contaminate foods by having cooked meat next to raw meat, for example. Make sure you keep food at cool or freezing temperatures by storing them properly in the refrigerator or the freezer. Don’t let meat thaw on the counter, where contaminated juices could infect other things placed on the counter. And definitely don’t eat meat that hasn’t been properly cooked, especially when it comes to poultry. Remember there is also risk for red meats like beef and pork, although not as great as poultry.

The CDC has a few things to say about the E. coli bacteria.

On what it is: “Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. Some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses. Still other kinds of E. coli are used as markers for water contamination—so you might hear about E. coli being found in drinking water, which are not themselves harmful, but indicate the water is contaminated. It does get a bit confusing—even to microbiologists.”

On the symptoms of  Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which is a harmful strain: “The symptoms of STEC infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If there is fever, it usually is not very high (less than 101˚F/less than 38.5˚C). Most people get better within 5–7 days. Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening.”