Just a warning about visiting farms...kind of longish, but important

I should have posted this a few weeks ago, but I forgot to...

On the 6th of April I came down with a horible case of some kind of vomiting & Dhiarrhea bug...I thought it would go away in 24-48 hours, but it didn't. I was sick for 2 weeks with this bug. So I went to see my doctor and took her a sample, and she rang me to let me know I had food poisoning. So fast forward a few days later, I get a letter from the local health protection agency asking me where I had eaten and been for the week prior to getting this food poisoning, so looking back, on the Thursday I had lunch at Yo Sushi! (ate a raw fish dish) Saturday I took Noah to a petting farm to feed some baby lambs, and on the Monday I ate a smoked salmon sandwich with my friend Denise. She did not get sick.

So now, all I can think is that I got this Camplobacteria from the farm, lo and behold, thats the main way you can get this. I did pet quite a few farm animals (and I even made a calf smile but scratching him behind the ears) AND I washed my hand with the soap provided numerous times on the day. I don't use antibacterial hand wash, however I do now wish that I had.

So this is just really a warning, make sure that if you are visiting any farms, or touching any farm animals this spring and summer, you wash your hands and sing happy birthday twice to make sure they are washed really well...anyway, in the end a nice course of antibiotics got me back on my feet again...but man, it was a tough two weeks!

If you want to read more about Camplobacter, you can do so here

I should say that I was the only one who got sick, everyone else ate the same food, and touched the same animals...but only I got sick.

Message edited 4/29/2009 5:51:38 PM.

Re: Just a warning about visiting farms...kind of longish, but important

You poor baby! That stinks- and thanks for the advice. We have been to quite a few petting zoos and never even thought abou it. We will be anti-bactiral all the way now.

Re: Just a warning about visiting farms...kind of longish, but important

Thanks for the warning I hope you are all better now!

Re: Just a warning about visiting farms...kind of longish, but important

I know people wash their hands, but you never think you can really get sick from something as innocent as a baby lamb!!!

Re: Just a warning about visiting farms...kind of longish, but important

I don't let DS touch the animal at the farms/petting zoo.

Re: Just a warning about visiting farms...kind of longish, but important

I have heard of this before - they also say that is why they don't recommend young kids getting pictures with baby chickens or rabbits b.c they still touch their mouths.

Re: Just a warning about visiting farms...kind of longish, but important

Ugh that sucks Rach - and we live walking distance from a farm and feed the animals regularly - they are practically Cailen's siblings!!!