Stay healthy at animal exhibits

Stay healthy at animal exhibits Do your kids love visiting animals at the petting zoo, aquarium, or local fair? Interacting with animals can be fun and educational. But before your next trip to a petting zoo, remember that the animals at these exhibits can carry germs that can make people sick, especially young children. Follow the tips below to stay healthy while enjoying animals in exhibits.

 

Wash your hands You should wash your hands: Right after touching animals or anything in the areas where they live, roam, or eat. When you leave animal areas (even if you didn’t touch the animals).

Keep children safe around animals Always supervise children around animals. Children younger than 5 years old shouldn’t touch reptiles, amphibians, or poultry (like chickens and ducks). Don’t let children sit or play on the ground in animal areas. Don’t let children put their fingers or objects (like pacifiers) in their mouths when around animals or in animal areas.

 

Keep food and animals separate Don’t eat or drink around animals. Keep food and drinks away from animal areas. Don’t feed your food to the animals.  Learn more about animal exhibit safety

Healthy Pets, Healthy People is CDC's one-stop-shop for information on staying healthy around pets and other animals. Visit the website or follow @CDC_NCEZID for more updates.

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30329   1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348