Resolution Year 2001
Resolution Number 3:
Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Among Children Associated With Farm Visits.

Whereas, during the spring and fall of 2000, outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections among school children in Pennsylvania (Montgomery County) and the State of Washington resulted in 56 illnesses and 19 hospitalizations, and

Whereas, these illnesses were associated with school and family visits to farms where children came into direct contact with farm animals, and

Whereas, follow-up investigations confirmed that these outbreaks were the first reported in the United States to be associated with the direct transmission of E. coli O157 from farm animals to humans, and

Whereas, a national Centers for Disease Control (CDC) survey in June 2000 revealed that, of the 44 state and territorial public health departments responding, none had laws to control exposure of humans to enteric pathogens at venues where public has access to farm animals, and no federal law existed, and

Whereas, as a result of these U.S. farm associated outbreaks, CDC, in collaboration with the Zoonoses Working Group, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, and other groups, drafted measures to reduce the risk for farm animal-human transmission of enteric infections, and

Whereas, the draft addresses issues such as, providing risk information to farm visitors; designing venues to minimize risk; hand washing facilities should be adequate; hand-mouth activities (eating, etc.) should not be permitted; heightened precaution for persons at high risk for serious infections; and raw milk should not be served, and

Whereas, this April 20, 2001 draft document is now open for comment with responses to be sent to CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, or e-mailed to zcn0@cdc.gov, therefore be it

Resolved, that the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) review the attached draft document and submit comments to CDC, and be it further

Resolved, that AFDO ask CDC to provide them with a copy of the finalized national guideline, which AFDO will then communicate to all member agencies.