South Australian health authorities have issued a warning over contact with animals after three children who visited the Royal Adelaide Show contracted two cases of shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) infection and one case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Two of the three children – all aged between 4 and 12 years – had been in contact with farm animals at the show’s animal nursery.

SA Health’s Paddy Phillips said one of the children infected is in hospital with HUS and is in a serious but stable condition.

Professor Phillips said hand hygiene is the best method of preventing STEC after contact with animals.

And maybe not letting little kids with their soothers and food and hands in their mouths have contact with animals that can shed dangerous bacteria.

A table of international outbreaks at petting zoos and farm shows is available at: http://bites.ksu.edu/petting-zoos-outbreaks.