Pets can spread disease to children in play areas

You can protect your pets and your family from hidden dangers. Consider the case of Christopher Ronan. He was just like any other 4-year-old boy—playful, energetic and happy. His mother, Jennifer, like any parent, did everything she could to protect him. However, there was one threat she didn’t know about: diseases that can be passed from pets to people.

“My son, Christopher, a normal, healthy boy, is now partially blind in one eye,” said Jennifer. “His blindness was caused by a roundworm infection that he contracted from a public sandbox.”

Parasite infections, of which the most common are roundworm and hookworm, can be transmitted from pets to people, often through exposure to contaminated waste and soil. Public parks, sandboxes, your own backyard—any place where animal waste is present—can become potential hazard zones for children.

After Christopher’s diagnosis, Jennifer took up the cause of educating other parents about the potential risks of parasitic infection.

“It’s important to me to make a positive outcome of our experience by making sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else’s child,” said Jennifer. “Telling our very personal story will hopefully make people stop, listen and learn what they can do to prevent the spread of parasites like roundworm that can harm our children.” Today, Christopher is a normal 7-year-old, who enjoys playing with his dog and spending time with his friends and family. However, his vision loss will never be restored.

In an effort to raise awareness of how pets may transmit disease to family members, Jennifer recently teamed up with the veterinary members of the American Animal Hospital Association and Merial, a leading animal health company. Together they created a public service announcement entitled “Protect Your Pets. Protect Your Family,” airing throughout the U.S. to inform consumers about the dangers of parasite infections and educating them on how they can protect both their pets and their families.

According to Dr. Michael Rubinstein, clinic director of the Humane Society of New York, “Prevention is simple and it begins with keeping your pet worm-free and healthy.” He offers the following tips: •Visit websites like www.StopWorms.com to learn how to prevent pets from transmitting potentially dangerous worms to you and your family. •Take your puppy or kitten to the veterinarian for deworming at an early age and adhere to a regular deworming schedule to prevent subsequent infection. •Clean up properly after pets, especially around the home and lawn. Use tools for cleanup to avoid direct contact with pets’ waste, and wash hands immediately after cleanup. •If you have a sandbox in your backyard, make sure to keep it covered to prevent neighborhood pets from using it as a litter box. •Since children are particularly vulnerable to intestinal parasites, help them understand the dangers of ingesting or coming in contact with feces or potentially contaminated soil. •Make sure to carry towelettes to wipe children’s hands frequently after playing in a park, public sandbox, etc.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.