Multiple venues encourage or permit the public to come in contact with animals, resulting in millions of human-animal contacts each year. These settings include county or state fairs, petting zoos, animal swap meets, pet stores, zoologic institutions, circuses, carnivals, farm tours, livestock-birthing exhibits, educational exhibits at schools, and wildlife photo opportunities. Although multiple benefits of humananimal contact exist, infectious diseases, rabies exposures, injuries, and other human health problems associated with these settings are of concern. Rabid or potentially rabid animals in public settings can result in extensive public health investigation and action. Infectious disease outbreaks reported during the previous decade have been attributed to multiple organisms, including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Coxiella burnetti, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and ringworm. Such incidents have substantial medical, public health, legal, and economic effects. This report provides standardized recommendations for public health officials, veterinarians, animal venue operators, animal exhibitors, visitors to animal venues and exhibits, and others concerned with disease-control and with minimizing risks associated with animals in public settings. The recommendation to wash hands is the single most important prevention step for reducing the risk for disease transmission. Other critical recommendations are that venues include transition areas between animal areas and nonanimal areas (where food is sold) and that animals are properly cared for and managed in public settings. In addition, this report recommends educating venue operators, staff, exhibitors, and visitors regarding the risk for disease transmission where animal contact is possible.# Introduction
Contact with animals in public settings (e.g., fairs, farm tours, and petting zoos) provides opportunities for entertainment and education concerning animals and animal husbandry. However, inadequate understanding of disease transmission and animal behavior can lead to infectious diseases, rabies exposures, injuries, and other health problems among visitors, especially children, in these settings. Diseases called zoonoses or zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans. Of particular concern are situations in which substantial numbers of persons are exposed to zoonotic disease or become ill, necessitating public health investigation and medical follow-up. A 2004 review identified >25 human infectious disease outbreaks during 1990-2000 associated with visitors to animal exhibits (1).
The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) recognizes the positive benefits of human-animal contact. NASPHV considers that the risks of these contacts can be minimized in properly supervised and managed settings by using appropriately selected animals that receive regular health examinations and preventive care. Although eliminating all risk from animal contacts might not be achievable, this report provides standardized recommendations for minimizing disease and injury.
NASPHV recommends that local and state public health, agricultural, environmental, and wildlife agencies, and other organizations use these recommendations to establish their own guidelines or regulations for reducing the risk for disease from human-animal contact in public settings. Multiple venues exist where public contact with animals is permitted (e.g., animal displays, petting zoos, animal swap meets, pet stores, zoologic institutions, nature parks, circuses, carnivals, farm tours, livestock-birthing exhibits, county or state fairs, schools, and wildlife photo opportunities). Persons responsible for managing these venues are encouraged to use the information in this report to reduce risk.
Guidelines to reduce risks for disease from animals in healthcare facilities and service animals (e.g., guide dogs) have been developed (2)(3)(4). These settings are not specifically addressed in this report, although the general principles and recommendations might be applicable.

# Enteric (Intestinal) Diseases
Infections with enteric bacteria and parasites pose the highest risk for human disease from animals in public settings (5). Healthy animals harbor multiple human enteric pathogens. Certain organisms have a low infectious dose (6)(7)(8). Because of the popularity of animal venues, a substantial number of persons might be exposed to these organisms. Reports of illness and outbreaks among visitors to fairs, farms, and petting zoos have been documented. Pathogens linked to outbreaks include Escherichia coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Cryptosporidium (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Although these reports usually document cattle, sheep, and goats as sources for infection, poultry (18)(19)(20)(21) and other domestic and wild animals also are potential sources.
The primary mode of transmission for enteric pathogens is the fecal-oral route. Because animal fur, hair, skin, and saliva (22) can become contaminated with fecal organisms, transmission might occur when persons pet, touch, or are licked by animals. Transmission has also occurred from fecal contamination of food, including raw milk (23)(24)(25), sticky foods (e.g., cotton candy ), water (27)(28)(29), and environmental surfaces (12,18,30,31).
Animals infected with enteric pathogens (e.g., E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter) frequently exhibit no signs of illness and might shed pathogens intermittently. Therefore, although removing ill animals (especially those with diarrhea) is necessary to protect animal and human health, it is not sufficient: animals that appear to be healthy might still be infectious and contaminate the environment. Certain organisms live months or years in the environment (32)(33)(34)(35)(36). Because of intermittent shedding and limitations of laboratory tests, culturing fecal specimens or other attempts to identify, screen, and remove infected animals might not be effective in eliminating the risk for transmission. Antimicrobial treatment of animals cannot be depended upon to eliminate infection and shedding of enteric pathogens or to prevent reinfection.
Multiple factors increase the probability of transmission at animal exhibits. Animals are more likely to shed pathogens because of stress induced by prolonged transportation, confinement, crowding, and increased contact with persons (37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43). Commingled animals increase the probability that animals shedding organisms will infect other animals. The prevalence of certain enteric pathogens might be higher in young animals (44)(45)(46), which are frequently exhibited by petting zoos. Shedding of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella is highest in the summer and fall when substantial numbers of traveling animal exhibits, agricultural fairs, and petting zoos are scheduled (43,47,48).
The risk for infections or outbreaks is increased by certain human factors and behaviors. These factors include inadequate hand washing, venues that attract substantial numbers of children, a lack of close supervision of children, hand-to-mouth activities (e.g., use of pacifiers, thumb-sucking, smoking, and eating) in proximity to animals, and a lack of awareness of the risk.
The layout and maintenance of facilities and animal exhibits can also contribute to the risk for infection. Risk factors include inadequate hand-washing facilities (1), structural deficiencies as-sociated with temporary food-service facilities, inadequate separation between animal exhibits and food-consumption areas (49), and contaminated or inadequately maintained drinking water and sewage/manure disposal systems (27)(28)(29)31).

# Lessons from Outbreaks
Two E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Washington State led to CDC establishing recommendations for enteric disease prevention in animal contact settings (http:// www.cdc.gov/foodborneoutbreaks/pulication/recomm_ farm_animal.htm). Findings in both outbreaks were animal contact at farms open to the public and inadequate hand washing (14,16). In the Pennsylvania outbreak, 51 persons (median age: 4 years) became ill within 10 days of visiting a dairy farm, and eight (16%) developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal consequence of E. coli O157:H7 infection. The same strain of E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from cattle, case-patients, and the farm environment. In addition to the reported cases, an increased number of diarrhea cases in the community were attributed to visiting the farm. An assessment of the farm environment determined that 1) no areas existed for eating and drinking that were separate from the animal contact areas, and 2) the limited hand-washing facilities were not configured for children (14).
Failure to properly wash hands was also a contributing factor in other outbreaks caused by Cryptosporidium (11) and Salmonella (12). The protective effect of hand washing and the persistence of organisms in the environment were demonstrated in an outbreak of Salmonella infections at a Colorado zoo. Sixty-five cases (the majority of them children) were associated with touching a wooden barrier around the Komodo dragon exhibit. Noninfected children were substantially more likely to have washed their hands after visiting the exhibit. Salmonella was isolated from 39 case-patients, a Komodo dragon, and the wooden barrier (12).
During 2000-2001 at a Minnesota children's farm day camp, washing hands with soap after touching a calf and washing hands before going home were protective factors in two outbreaks involving multiple enteric organisms (50). A total of 84 illnesses were documented among attendees. Implicated organisms for the human infections were E. coli O157:H7, Cryptosporidium parvum, non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, and Campylobacter jejuni. These organisms, as well as Giardia, were also isolated from the calves. Risk factors for children included caring for an ill calf and getting visible manure on their hands.
Enteric pathogens can contaminate and persist in animal housing areas. For example, E. coli O157:H7 can survive in soil for months (31,32,34,51). Prolonged environmental persistence of pathogens was documented in an Ohio outbreak of E. coli O157 infections in which 23 persons became ill at a fair after handling sawdust, attending a dance, or eating and drinking in a building where animals were exhibited during the previous week (31). Fourteen weeks after the fair ended, E. coli O157 was isolated from multiple environmental sources within the building, including sawdust on the floor and dust on the rafters. Forty-two weeks after the fair ended, E. coli O157 was recovered from sawdust on the floor.
Transmission of E. coli O157:H7 from airborne dust was implicated in an Oregon county fair outbreak with 60 cases, the majority of them children (18). Illness was associated with visiting an exhibition hall that housed goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, and poultry but was not associated with touching animals or their pens, eating, or inadequate hand washing. The same organism was recovered from ill persons and the building. In 2004, an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infection was associated with attendance at a goat and sheep petting zoo at the North Carolina State Fair (51). Health officials investigated 112 case-patients, including 15 who had HUS. The same strain of E. coli O157:H7 infecting case-patients was isolated from the animal bedding 10 days after the fair was over. The strain was also isolated from the soil after the animal bedding was removed.
The effect of improper facility design was illustrated by one of the most substantial waterborne outbreaks in the United States (28,29). Approximately 800 suspected cases of E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter were identified among attendees at a New York county fair where the water and sewage systems had deficiencies.

# Sporadic Infections
Multiple sporadic infections, not identified as part of recognized outbreaks, have been associated with animal environments. A study of sporadic E. coli O157:H7 infections among selected U.S. states and counties determined that case-patients, especially children, were more likely to have visited a farm with cows than healthy persons (52). Additional studies also documented an association between E. coli O157:H7 infection and visiting a farm (53) or living in a rural area (54). Studies of human cryptosporidiosis have documented contact with cattle or visiting farms as risk factors for infection (55)(56)(57). A case-control study identified multiple factors associated with Campylobacter infection, including raw milk consumption and contact with farm animals (58). In other studies, farm residents were at a lower risk for infection with Cryptosporidium (55) and E. coli O157:H7 (59) than farm visitors, probably because the residents had acquired immunity to the infection as a result of their early and frequent exposure to these organisms.

# Additional Health Concerns
Although enteric diseases are the most commonly reported health risks associated with animals in public settings, multiple other health risks are of concern. For example, allergies can be associated with animal dander, scales, fur, feathers, body wastes (urine), and saliva (60)(61)(62). Additional health concerns addressed in this report include injuries, rabies exposures, and other infections.

# Injuries
Injuries associated with animals in public settings include bites, kicks, falls, scratches, stings, crushing of the hands or feet, and being pinned between the animal and a fixed object. These injuries have been associated with multiple species, including big cats (e.g., tigers), monkeys, domestic animals, and zoo animals. The settings have included public stables, petting zoos, traveling photo opportunities, schools, children's parties, and animal rides.*

# Rabies Exposures
Contact with mammals might expose persons to rabies through contamination of mucous membranes, bites, scratches, or other wounds with infected saliva or nervous tissue. Although no human rabies deaths caused by animal contact in public exhibits have been recorded, multiple rabies exposures have occurred, requiring extensive public health investigation and medical followup. For example, in the previous decade, thousands of persons have received rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) after being exposed to rabid or potentially rabid animal species (including cats, goats, bears, sheep, ponies, and dogs) at 1) a pet store in New Hampshire ( 63), 2) a county fair in New York State (64), 3) petting zoos in Iowa (65,66) and Texas (J.H. Wright, DVM, Texas Department of Health, personal communication, 2004), and 4) school and rodeo events in Wyoming (1). Substantial public health and medical care challenges associated with potential mass rabies exposures include difficulty in identifying and contacting persons, correctly assessing exposure risks, and providing timely medical treatment. Prompt assessment and treatment are critical for this disease, which is usually fatal.

# Other Infections
Multiple bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic agents have been associated with animal contact. These organisms are transmitted through various modes. Infections from animal bites are common and frequently require extensive treatment or hospitalization. Bacterial pathogens that are frequently associated with animal bites include Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, Bartonella henselae (cat-scratch disease), and Streptobacillus moniliformis (rat-bite fever). Certain monkey species (especially macaques) that are kept as pets or used in public exhibitions can be infected with herpes B virus, either asymptomatically or with mild oral lesions. Human exposure through bites or fluids can result in a fatal meningoencephalitis (67,68). Because of difficulties with laboratory testing to confirm monkey infection and high herpes B prevalence, monkey bites can require intensive public health and medical follow-up.
Skin contact with animals in public settings might also result in human infection. Fifteen cases of ringworm infection (club lamb fungus) caused by Trichophyton species and Microsporum gypseum were documented among owners and family members who exhibited lambs in Georgia during a show season (69). Ringworm infection in 23 persons and multiple animal species were traced to a Microsporum canis infection in a hand-reared zoo tiger cub (70). Orf virus infections (contagious ecthyma or sore mouth) have occurred in goats and sheep at a children's petting zoo (71) and in a lamb used for an Easter photo opportunity (M. Eidson, DVM, New York State Department of Health, personal communication, 2003). After handling various species of infected exotic animals, a zoo attendant experienced an extensive papular skin rash from a cowpox-like virus (72). In 2003, multiple cases of monkeypox occurred among persons who had had contact with infected prairie dogs either at a child care center (73,74)  Ecto-and endoparasites pose concerns when humans and exhibit animals interact. Sarcoptes scabiei is a skin mite that infests humans and animals, including swine, dogs, cats, foxes, cattle, and coyotes (75,76). Although human infestation from animal sources is usually self-limiting, skin irritation and itching might occur for multiple days and be difficult to diagnose (75)(76)(77). Animal fleas bite humans, which increases the risk for infection or allergic reaction. In addition, fleas are the intermediate host for a tapeworm species that can infect children. Multiple other animal helminths might infect humans through fecal-oral contact or through contact with animals or contaminated earth (78,79). Parasite-control through veterinary care and proper husbandry coupled with hand washing reduce the risks associated with ectoand endoparasites (80).
Tuberculosis (TB) is another disease of concern in certain animal settings. Twelve circus elephant handlers at an exotic animal farm in Illinois were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and one handler had signs consistent with active disease after three elephants died of TB. Medical history and testing of the handlers indicated that the elephants had been a probable source of exposure for the majority of the human infections (81). At a zoo in Louisiana, seven animal handlers who were previously negative for TB tested positive after a Mycobacterium bovis outbreak in rhinoceroses and monkeys (82). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed guidelines regarding removal of infected animals from public contact as a result of concerns regarding the risk for exposure to the public (83).
Zoonotic pathogens might also be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with reproductive fluids, aborted fetuses, or newborns from infected dams. Live-birthing exhibits, usually involving livestock (e.g., cattle, pigs, goats, or sheep), are popular at agricultural fairs. Although the public usually does not have direct contact with animals during birthing, newborns and their dams are frequently available for petting and observation afterward. Q fever (Coxiella burnetii), leptospirosis, listeriosis, brucellosis, and chlamydiosis are serious zoonoses that can be associated with contact with reproductive materials (84).
C. burnetii is a rickettsial organism that most frequently infects cattle, sheep, and goats. The disease can cause abortion in animals, but more frequently the infection is asymptomatic. During parturition, infected animals shed substantial numbers of organisms that might become aerosolized. The majority of persons exposed to C. burnetii develop an asymptomatic infection, but clinical illness can range from an acute influenza-like illness to life-threatening endocarditis. A Q fever outbreak involving 95 confirmed case-patients and 41 hospitalizations was linked to goats and sheep giving birth at petting zoos. These petting zoos were in indoor shopping malls, indicating that indoor-birthing exhibits might pose an increased risk for Q fever transmission (85).
Chlamydophila psittaci infections cause respiratory disease (commonly called psittacosis) and are usually acquired from psittacine birds (86). For example, an outbreak of C. psittaci pneumonia occurred among the staff at the Copenhagen Denmark Zoo (87). On limited occasions, chlamydial infections acquired from sheep, goats, and birds result in reproductive problems in humans (86,88,89).

# Recommendations
Guidelines and recommendations from multiple organizations contributed to the recommendations in this report. A limited number of states have specific guidelines or legislation for petting zoo exhibitors and other animal exhibition venues (1,16,(90)(91)(92). However, in the United Kingdom, recommendations to prevent enteric infections at animal exhibitions and agricultural fairs were developed in 1989 (93), 1995 (94), and 2000 (95). In the United States, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association has accreditation standards for reducing risks of animal contact with the public in zoologic parks (96). In accordance with the Animal Welfare Act, the USDA Animal Care licenses and inspects certain animal exhibits for humane treatment of animals, but this act is not intended for human health protection. No federal laws address the risk for transmission of pathogens at venues where the public has contact with animals. However, in 2001, CDC issued guidelines to reduce the risk for enteric pathogens (16). CDC has also issued recommendations for preventing transmission of Salmonella from reptiles to humans (97). The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) developed guidelines to address risks associated with the use of service animals in health-care settings (2).
Opportunities for animal contact with the public occur in various settings. Recommendations provided in this report should be tailored to specific settings, and the report should be incorporated into guidelines and regulations developed at the state or local level. This report should be disseminated to persons who own or manage animals in public settings. State and local human and animal health agencies should make educational materials available to venue operators and other interested persons (90,91,98). Incidents of disease transmission or injury should be promptly reported to public health authorities and investigated.

# Educational Responsibilities of Venue Operators
Education is essential to reduce risks associated with animal contact in public settings. Animal owners, exhibit operators, and their staff should be educated to make appropriate management decisions. In addition, the public should be educated so that they can weigh the benefits and risks of animal contact and take appropriate measures to reduce risks. Recommendations include the following:
- Operator education. Venue operators should familiarize themselves with the basic risk-reduction recommendations contained in this report. The responsibility of the operator is to apply these recommendations to specific settings and provide basic education to staff and visitors (e.g., using signage, stickers, handouts, or verbal information

# General Recommendations for Managing Public and Animal Contact
The public's contact with animals should occur in settings where controls are in place to reduce the potential for injuries or disease and increase the probability that exposures will be reported, documented, and handled appropriately. The design of facilities or contact settings should minimize the risk for exposure and facilitate hand washing (Box 1). Certain jurisdictions might choose to establish more restrictive recommendations in areas where animal contact is specifically encouraged (e.g., petting zoos). Requirements for the design of facilities or contact settings might include double barriers to prevent contact with animals or contaminated surfaces except for specified interaction areas. Manure disposal and wastewater runoff should occur in areas where the risk for exposure to pedestrians is eliminated or reduced. Control methods should focus on facility design and management.
Recommendations regarding the management of animals in public settings should address animal areas (where animal contact is possible or encouraged), transition areas, and nonanimal areas (areas in which animals are not permitted, with the exception of service animals) (Figure ). Specific guidelines might be necessary for certain settings (e.g., schools ). Recommendations for cleaning procedures should be tailored to the specific situation (Appendix).

# Animal Areas
Recommendations should be applied both to settings in which animal contact is possible (e.g., county fairs) and settings in which direct animal contact is encouraged (e.g., petting zoos). However, in settings where direct animal contact is encouraged, additional precautions should be taken to reduce the risk for injuries and disease transmission.
For areas where animal contact is possible, design of the entry and exit points for animal contact areas should be planned to facilitate proper visitor flow through transition areas (Figure ). These transition areas should include educational information and hand-washing facilities. Fences, gates, or other types of barriers can restrict uncontrolled access to animals and animal contact areas and ensure that visitors enter and exit through transition areas. Animal feed and water should not be accessible to the public. In addition, in buildings where animals live, adequate ventilation is essential for both animals (99) and humans.
Food and beverages. No food or beverages should be allowed in animal areas. In addition, smoking, carrying toys, and use of pacifiers, spill-proof cups ("sippy cups"), and baby bottles should not be permitted in animal areas.
Cleaning procedures. Manure and soiled animal bedding should be removed promptly. Animal waste and specific tools for waste removal (e.g., shovels and pitchforks) should be confined to designated areas restricted from public access. Manure and Hand washing is the single most important prevention step for reducing disease transmission.

# How to Wash Hands
1. Wet hands with running water; place soap in palms; rub together to make a lather; scrub hands vigorously for 20 seconds; rinse soap off hands; then dry hands with a disposable towel. 2. If possible, turn off the faucet by using a disposable towel. 3. Assist young children with washing their hands.

# Hand-Washing Facilities or Stations
- Hand-washing facilities should be accessible and sufficient for the maximum anticipated attendance, and configured for use by children, adults, and those with disabilities. - Hands should always be washed after leaving animal areas and before eating or drinking. - Hand-washing stations should be conveniently located between animal and nonanimal areas and in food concession areas. - Maintenance should include routine cleaning and restocking of towels and soap. - Running water should be of sufficient volume and pressure to remove soil from hands. Volume and pressure might be substantially reduced if the water supply is furnished from a holding tank. Therefore, a permanent pressured water supply is preferable. - The hand-washing unit should be designed so that both hands are free for hand washing. - Hot water is preferable, but if the hand-washing stations are supplied with only cold water, a soap that emulsifies easily in cold water should be provided.

# BOX 1. Hand-washing recommendations to reduce disease transmission from animals in public settings
- Communal basins, where water is used by more than one person, do not constitute adequate hand-washing facilities.

# Hand-Washing Agents
- Liquid soap dispensed by a hand or foot pump is recommended. - Alcohol-based hand-sanitizers are effective against multiple common disease agents (e.g., Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter) when soap and water are not available. However, they are ineffective against certain organisms (i.e., bacterial spores, Cryptosporidium, and certain viruses). - Hand-sanitizers are less effective if hands are visibly soiled.
Therefore, visible contamination and dirt should be removed to the extent possible before using hand-sanitizers.

# Hand-Washing Signs
At venues where human-animal contact occurs, signs regarding proper hand-washing practices are critical to reduce disease transmission.
- Signs that are reminders to wash hands should be posted at exits from animal areas.

# Example of a Hand-Washing Sign

# Directions for Washing Hands

# When
- After going to the toilet - After exiting animal areas - Before eating - Before preparing foods soiled bedding should not be transported or removed through nonanimal areas or transition areas used by visitors. If this is unavoidable, precautions should be taken to avoid spillage and aerosolization. During events where animal contact is encouraged, periodic disinfection of the venue might reduce the risk for disease transmission during the event.
Supervision of children. Children should be closely supervised during contact with animals to discourage contact with manure and soiled bedding. Hand-to-mouth contact (e.g., thumbsucking) should also be discouraged. Appropriate hand washing should be required. Additional recommendations for groups at high risk, including children aged <5 years, are outlined in this report (see Additional Recommendations).
Staff. Trained staff should be present in areas where animal contact is permitted to encourage appropriate human-animal interactions, reduce risk for exposure (e.g., by promptly cleaning up wastes), and process reports of injuries and exposures.
Feeding animals. If feeding animals is permitted, only food sold by the venue for that purpose should be allowed. Food sold for animal consumption should not be eaten by humans and should not be provided in containers that can be eaten by persons (e.g., ice cream cones). This policy will reduce the risk for animal bites and the probability of children eating food that has come into contact with animals.
Use of animal areas for public (nonanimal) activities. Zoonotic pathogens can contaminate the environment for substantial periods (31). If animal areas need to be used for public events (e.g., weddings and dances), these areas should be cleaned and disinfected, particularly if food and beverages are served. Materials with smooth, impervious surfaces (e.g., steel, plastic, and sealed concrete) are easier to clean than other materials (e.g., wood or dirt floors). Removing organic material (bedding, feed, and manure) before using disinfectants is important. A list of disinfectants is included in this report (Appendix).

# Transition Areas Between Animal and Nonanimal Areas
Providing transition areas for visitors to pass through when entering and exiting animal areas is critical. The transition areas between animal and nonanimal areas should be designated as clearly as possible, even if they need to be conceptual rather than physical (Figure). In these areas, information should be provided regarding the 1) prevention of infection and injury and 2) location of hand-washing facilities and instructions for visitors to wash their hands upon exiting.
- Signs informing visitors that they are entering an animal area should be posted at the entrance transition areas. These signs should also instruct visitors not to eat, drink, or place their hands in their mouth while in the animal area. Visitors should be discouraged from taking strollers, baby bottles, pacifiers, food, and beverages into areas where animal contact is encouraged or where contact with animal manure or bedding can occur. Visitor traffic should be controlled to avoid overcrowding the animal area. - Exit transition areas should be marked with signs instructing the public to wash their hands. Hand-washing stations should be available and accessible to all visitors, including children and persons with disabilities (Box 1).

# Nonanimal Areas
Nonanimal areas are areas in which animals are not permitted, with the exception of service animals.
- Food and beverages should be prepared, served, and consumed only in the designated nonanimal areas. Hand-- Nonanimal areas -Areas in which animals are not permitted, except for service animals (e.g., guide dogs). Food and beverages should be prepared, served, and consumed only in the designated nonanimal areas.  Signs should be in different formats depending on the audience (e.g., children and persons who do not speak English). Nonwritten information (e.g., verbal instructions and videos) can also be used.  Animal area -Areas in which animal contact is possible (e.g., county fairs) or is encouraged (e.g., petting zoos).

# FIGURE. Examples of designs for animal contact settings, including clearly designated animal areas, nonanimal areas,- and transition areas with hand-washing stations and signage

# Animal-Specific Guidelines
- Fish -Use disposable gloves when cleaning aquariums, and do not dispose of aquarium water in sinks used for food preparation or for obtaining drinking water.

# Animals Not Recommended in School Settings
- Wild or exotic animals (e.g., lions, tigers, ocelots, and bears).
- Nonhuman primates (e.g., monkeys and apes).
- Mammals at higher risk for transmitting rabies (e.g., bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes). - Wolf-dog hybrids.
- Aggressive or unpredictable animals, wild or domestic.
- Stray animals with unknown health and vaccination history. - Venomous or toxin-producing spiders, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.
washing facilities should be available where food or beverages are served (Box 1). - If animals or animal products (e.g., animal pelts, animal waste, and owl pellets) (100) are used for educational purposes in nonanimal areas (Box 2), the nonanimal areas should be cleaned (Appendix). Animals and animal products should not be brought into school cafeterias and other food-consumption areas.

# Animal Care and Management
The risk for disease or injuries from animal contacts can be reduced by carefully managing the specific animals used for such contacts. These recommendations should be considered for management of animals in contact with the public.
- Animal care. Animals should be monitored daily by their owners or caretakers for signs of illness, and they should receive appropriate veterinary care. Ill animals and animals from herds with a recent history of abortion or diarrhea should not be exhibited. Animals should be housed to minimize stress and overcrowding, which can increase shedding of microorganisms. Options to reduce the burden of enteric pathogens need to be evaluated, particularly for animals that are at higher risk and that will be used in venues where animal contact is encouraged.

# Additional Recommendations
- Populations at high risk. Groups at high risk for serious infection include persons with waning immunity (e.g., older adults); children aged <5 years; and persons who are cognitively impaired, pregnant, or immunocompromised (e.g., persons with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, without a functioning spleen, or on immunosuppressive therapy). Persons at high risk should take heightened precautions at any animal exhibit. In addition to thorough and frequent hand washing, heightened precautions might include avoiding contact with animals and their environment (e.g., pens, bedding, and manure). Animals of particular concern for transmitting enteric diseases include young ruminants, young poultry, reptiles, amphibians, and ill animals. For young children, risk for exposure might be reduced if they are closely supervised by adults, carried by adults in animal areas, or have animal contact only over a barrier. These measures discourage animals from jumping on or nuzzling children and minimize contact with feces and soiled bedding. - Consumption of unpasteurized products. Unpasteurized dairy products (e.g., milk, cheese, and yogurt) as well as unpasteurized apple cider or juices should not be consumed.
- Drinking water. Local public health authorities should inspect drinking water systems before use. Only potable water should be used for human consumption. Back-flow prevention devices should be installed between outlets in livestock areas and water lines supplying other uses on the grounds. If the water supply is from a well, adequate distance should be maintained from possible sources of contamination (e.g., animal-holding areas and manure piles). Maps of the water distribution system should be available for use in identifying potential or actual problems. The use of outdoor hoses should be minimized, and hoses should not be left on the ground. Hoses that are accessible to the public should be labeled "not for human consumption." Operators and managers of animal contact settings in which treated municipal water is not available should consider methods for disinfection of their water supply.

# Conclusion
NASPHV recognizes the benefits of human-animal contact. However, infectious diseases, rabies exposures, injuries, and other human health problems have occurred in animal contact settings secondary to human-animal contact. These incidents have substantial medical, public health, legal, and economic effects. The recommendation to wash hands is the single most important prevention step for reducing the risk for disease transmission. The standardized recommendations in this report should be used by public health officials, veterinarians, venue operators, animal exhibitors, and other persons concerned with disease control to minimize risks associated with animals in public settings.

# Appendix Disinfectants and Their Properties
All surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly before disinfection. For basic disinfection, a 1:100 dilution of household bleach (i.e., 2.5 tablespoons/gallon) or a 1:1,000 dilution of quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g., Roccal-D  or Zephiran  ) may be used. This appendix includes instructions for disinfection when a particular organism has been identified. All compounds require a contact time of >10 minutes. Local

# Goal and Objectives
This MMWR provides evidence-based guidelines for reducing risks associated with animals in public settings. The recommendations were developed by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, in consultation with representatives from CDC, the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The goal of this report is to provide guidelines for public health officials, veterinarians, animal venue operators, animal exhibitors, and others concerned with disease control to minimize risks associated with animals in public settings. Upon completion of this activity, the reader should be able to describe 1) the reasons for the development of the guidelines; 2) the disease risks associated with animals in public settings; 3) populations at high risk; and 4) recommended prevention and control methods to reduce disease risks.
To receive continuing education credit, please answer all of the following questions.
1. Which of the following is true about the reasons why these recommendations were developed? A. Animal contacts are too risky and thus must be regulated against. B. Only petting zoos are of concern for disease risk. C. Multiple venues allow public contact with animals and thus pose a disease risk. D. These recommendations were developed to control zoonoses, which are diseases contracted only at zoos. E. Following these guidelines will eliminate all disease risk.

# Which of the following is true about guidelines for visiting and resident animals in schools?
A. Baby chicks and ducks are an excellent choice for all children in school settings because of their small size. B. Animals may be allowed in food settings (e.g., a school cafeteria) if they have a health certificate from a veterinarian. C. Animals should not be allowed to roam or fly free, and areas for contact should be designated. D. A and B. E. A, B, and C. F. None of the above.

# If no licensed rabies vaccine exists for an animal species on display in a
petting zoo, options to manage human rabies exposure risk include. . . A. using an animal born from a vaccinated mother if it is too young to vaccinate. B. penning the animal each night in a cage or pen that will exclude rabies reservoirs (e.g., bats and skunks). C. maintaining a record of visitors to facilitate visitor follow-up. D. asking a veterinarian to vaccinate the animal off-label with a rabies vaccine. E. testing the animal for presence of rabies antibodies. F. A, B, C, and D.

# Which best describes your professional activities?
A. Physician.