4th Superbug Case Confirmed At Wild Animal Park
BCR | February 7, 2008 1 View 0 Likes 0 Ratings
4th Superbug Case Confirmed At Wild Animal Park
SAN DIEGO — A fourth employee at the San Diego Wild Animal Park has tested
positive for the staph infection MRSA, county officials said.
The Health and Human Services Agency confirmed the case to NBC 7/39 on
Wednesday. Three other park employees had already been diagnosed with
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is called the “superbug,”
because of its resistance to certain antibiotics.
Two other cases at the park are pending, according to the county.
On Tuesday, officials at the Wild Animal Park said they had euthanized a
baby elephant, which coincidentally had the same superbug infection. The
park said the elephant was not euthanized because it had MRSA, but that it
had failed to grow and thrive since its birth in November. The park did say
the infection played a part in the calf’s failure to put on weight.
Park officials said the first three employees that were infected with the
superbug had all helped feed the baby elephant. County health officials said
the baby elephant developed a lesion on its ear, but that the latest cases
originated from people, not from the pachyderm.
The employees are believed to have been infected in a restricted area of the
park, not accessible to the public.
Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like
a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other
drainage, according to Wooten. The more serious infections can lead to
pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections.
Staph bacteria are commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy
people. Most staph skin infections are minor and can be treated without
antibiotics. The county advises people to practice good hygiene to prevent
MRSA, including washing your hands with soap and water, using alcohol-based
sanitizers, keeping wounds clean and covered, and avoiding contact with
other people’s wounds or bandages.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/15236300/detail.html
For the cats,
Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457
http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org
Sign our petition here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/344896451?ltl=1140270431
This message contains information from Big Cat Rescue that may be
confidential or privileged. The information contained herein is intended
only for the eyes of the individual or entity named above. You are hereby
notified that any dissemination, distribution, disclosure, and/or copying of
the information contained in this communication is strictly prohibited. The
recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of
viruses. Big Cat Rescue accepts no liability for any damage or loss caused
by any virus transmitted by this e-mail.
Related View More
BCR | February 20, 2020
What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?
BCR | November 21, 2019