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P2-114 Animal Contact in Public Settings:  Infectious Disease Risk Awareness and Hand Hygiene Behaviors

Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Exhibit Hall (Tampa Convention Center)
Wenqing Xu , School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University AgCenter , Baton Rouge , LA
Melissa Cater , Louisiana State University AgCenter, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education & Evaluation , Baton Rouge , LA
Rebecca Gravois , Louisiana State University AgCenter, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education & Evaluation , Baton Rouge , LA
Christine Navarre , School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University AgCenter , Baton Rouge , LA
Diana Coulon , School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University AgCenter , Baton Rouge , LA
Dorra Simmons , School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University AgCenter , Baton Rouge , LA
Introduction: Enteric pathogens can be carried by healthy animals without them having any illness. From 2000 to 2014, animal-human interactions at state, regional, or county fairs; petting zoos; and educational farms have caused 30 gastroenteritis outbreaks in the United States. To reduce the risk of pathogens transferred through animal contact, people have to avoid certain high-risk behaviors and follow good hand washing practices.

Purpose: This study assessed the awareness of risk of animal contact in the public settings and assessed handwashing behavior among adults in Louisiana.

Methods: A questionnaire was designed to assess the participants’ awareness of risk of animal contact and hand washing behavior after the animal contact in the state of Louisiana. The survey was conducted throughout the state in various settings including livestock shows, petting zoos, and educational farms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Two hundred and thirty five questionnaires were collected. Respondent demographic information indicated that participants were representative of the population of the State of Louisiana. The perception of risk associated with animal contact showed that the awareness towards risk behaviors, such as eating or drinking and nails biting, was poor. Most participants (76.2%) reported that they wash hands immediately after animal contact and 69.5% reported they sometimes use hand sanitizer in place of hand washing. A correlation study showed that past experience such as being sick after animal contact had positive correlations with awareness and handwashing behavior.

Significance: We found that adults in Louisiana had poor awareness towards the risk associated with animal contact in public settings. This revealed a need for increased communication and education for adults, especially parents, to reduce the risk of transferring enteric pathogen during animal contact.

Back to: Poster Session 2 – Food Chemical Hazards and Food Allergens, Food Toxicology, Meat, Poultry and Eggs, Epidemiology, Retail and Food Service Safety, Communication Outreach and Education, Molecular Analytics, Genomics and Microbiome, Laboratory and Detection Methods, and Dairy
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