If You Carelessly Touch a Cute Baby Yeomso (Goat)... You Could Catch This Disease

5-Year-Old Boy in Yeongseo Infected After Contact with Calf
Smallpox Parasite Found in Livestock and Pets

A 5-year-old boy living in the UK narrowly escaped death after contracting an infectious disease from touching baby goats and calves at a zoo. Local media, including The Sun, recently reported that Ellie Roberts (5), who visited the zoo with his family, suffered from high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea after hugging baby goats and calves.

Ellie's mother, Kelly Roberts, told the media, "About 10 days after visiting the zoo, he vomited at school and was sent home early," adding, "A few days later, he vomited from the morning and continued to suffer from abdominal pain. The diarrhea was so severe that he had to wear diapers."

A 5-year-old boy contracted 'Cryptosporidiosis' after hugging a baby goat at the zoo.
[Image source=The Sun capture]

As Ellie's condition worsened, the family eventually took him to the hospital. After a thorough examination, the hospital diagnosed Ellie with an infectious disease called Cryptosporidiosis. Ellie was hospitalized for four days and then discharged, but he still experiences aftereffects such as difficulty digesting food. Kelly said that before and after the zoo visit, "He washed his hands several times and took off his shoes as soon as he got into the car, paying close attention to hygiene," but "he still contracted the infectious disease. They said it would take at least a few weeks to fully recover."

Cryptosporidiosis is an infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans. This disease can be contracted by coming into contact with oocysts of a parasite called Cryptosporidium. These oocysts are mainly found in contaminated drinking water, livestock such as cattle, and pets like dogs and cats. After an incubation period of 2 to 10 days, symptoms such as cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea appear. The symptoms usually last about two weeks. In infected children, loss of appetite and vomiting tend to appear first.

If a healthy adult contracts Cryptosporidiosis, recovery can occur in about two weeks without special treatment. However, patients with weakened immune systems or young children may suffer from high fever and vomiting, leading to severe dehydration and potentially death. How can Cryptosporidiosis be prevented? Medical experts emphasize the importance of washing hands thoroughly before meals and after using the restroom. It is also important to avoid contact with places where Cryptosporidium may reside. After visiting farms or zoos, hands should be washed and the face should be cleansed, and swimming in lakes is not recommended.