Primary and Preventative Health Services’ Calgary Zone Medical Officers of Health and Alberta Health Services Environmental Public Health have declared a cryptosporidium outbreak at Butterfield Acres Petting Farm in Calgary.
Individuals who visited the petting farm on or after April 9 may have been exposed to cryptosporidium, according to Alberta Health Services (AHS). The farm is currently closed to the public, and Public Health is working with the facility to reduce the risk.
A public health advisory posted on Alberta.ca states the farm voluntarily closed from April 26 to 28 inclusive and that a Public Health Inspector has visited the site.
The advisory says the site is conducting remediation activities and that affected areas and animals are not accessible to the public.
Butterfield Acres staff said in an email that the farm acquired twin calves at the end of March and later learned one was carrying cryptosporidium.
The farm said the sick calf is no longer there and that its pen has been thoroughly disinfected.
Butterfield Acres said the second calf tested negative and remains in quarantine.
The farm said it is working with Alberta Health and expects to be under a health alert for about 10 days, though the exact timeline is not yet clear.
Butterfield Acres said it will remain open during that time. The farm also encouraged visitors to check its website for updates.
Alberta Health Services says cryptosporidiosis is caused by the cryptosporidium parvum parasite, also referred to as “crypto,” which lives in the intestine of infected animals and humans. It spreads when someone comes into contact with infected feces and then touches their mouth, usually with unwashed hands.
Some people do not develop symptoms, but most experience watery diarrhea. Other symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, belly pain and weight loss. Symptoms usually begin two to 10 days after becoming infected and can last one to two weeks.
Most people with healthy immune systems recover without treatment. Dehydration caused by diarrhea is the most common complication.
Alberta Health Services advises anyone with symptoms to consider calling Health Link at 811 or seeing a primary care provider for medical assessment. Immunocompromised individuals should consider early medical assessment.
The agency recommends frequent handwashing with warm, soapy water, including after using the washroom, before preparing food, after touching raw meat, after changing diapers, and before eating. Kitchen tools and surfaces should be thoroughly washed before and after meal preparation.
Do not share food, drink, or eating utensils with someone experiencing symptoms.
People with symptoms should practice good hand hygiene, use a separate washroom where possible, avoid preparing food for others, and remain home from daycare or school until 48 hours after symptoms have resolved.
Anyone with diarrhea should not enter swimming pools, water spray parks or other aquatic facilities for at least two weeks after symptoms resolve.
Visitors to petting zoos should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching animals or their environment. They should avoid contact with animal feces or urine and avoid touching their face, food or personal items after handling animals.
They should also avoid letting animals lick their mouth or face and avoid touching dirt or sand where feces may be present. Pacifier use and thumb-sucking in young children should be discouraged.
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