The Wyoming Department of Health got word of two sheep ranch employees who were infected with Campylobacter jejuni and suffered from abdominal symptoms. Both eventually recovered, although one was hospitalized for a day. The Center for Disease Control issued a report.
Ranch owners and workers were advised to use only standard techniques for lamb castration. Link -via Improbable Research
(Unrelated image credit: Flickr user EssjayNZ)
During June, both patients had participated in a multiday event to castrate and dock tails of 1,600 lambs. Both men reported having used their teeth to castrate some of the lambs. Among the 12 persons who participated in the event, the patients are the only two known to have used their teeth to castrate lambs. During the multiday event, a few lambs reportedly had a mild diarrheal illness. Neither patient with laboratory-confirmed illness reported consumption of poultry or unpasteurized dairy products, which are common sources of exposure to C. jejuni (1). The patients resided in separate houses and did not share food or water; none of their contacts became ill.
Ranch owners and workers were advised to use only standard techniques for lamb castration. Link -via Improbable Research
(Unrelated image credit: Flickr user EssjayNZ)
I guess next time if any lambs are ill maybe they'll wait to castrate them with their teeth. :o