Staying healthy at the fair

The Sheboygan County Fair is just around the corner. This event gives area residents a chance to enjoy food, rides, music, and a sense of community pride. Unfortunately, the mixture of heat, food, and animals also offers the potential for illness.

“We have just one request – make sure to wash your hands,” said Dale Hippensteel, Sheboygan County health officer.

“Being able to touch a variety of animals, handmade items and rides mean our hands come in contact with many community surfaces. This makes hand washing very important,” Hippensteel said. “The fair has hand-washing stations and public restrooms available, and I also recommend individuals take hand sanitizer with them to ensure hands remain clean throughout the fair visit especially before eating.”

E. coli and recent fair exposures. The importance of proper hand washing while at the fair was made even more evident by the news of eight children in northern Wisconsin who became ill with E. coli after visiting the Langlade County 4-H Youth Fair in July. More recently, a toddler was exposed to E. coli even after her mother washed her hands at the Fond du Lac County Fair.

“Young children may be better off looking but not touching the animals,” Hippensteel said.

The most common symptom of E. coli infections is diarrhea (which may be either bloody or nonbloody), and symptoms typically begin two-eight days after exposure to the organism. Serious illness may result from E. coli infection, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which damage to the small blood vessels in the kidneys often leads to acute kidney failure.

Proper hand-washing techniques and hygiene. Use warm water and soap whenever possible when washing hands. Lather for at least 20 seconds and be sure to cover all surfaces, including under the nails. After rinsing, use a clean paper towel or air dryer to dry the hands.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, rub the sanitizer over all surfaces of the hands and fingers until the hands are dry.

Always wash hands after petting animals, before eating, after going to the bathroom, or after handling anything that looks dirty or was previously touched by someone who appeared to be sick. Try to keep children from biting their nails or putting their hands in their mouth.

For more information on hand washing or E. coli: Visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website at http://www.dhs. wisconsin.gov/communicable/fact sheets/Handwashing.htm and/or http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/factsheets/Ecoli.htm.