Northern Nevada investigates crypto outbreak linked to animal yoga class

Northern Nevada Public Health said it was investigating an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis tied to a live animal yoga class in Washoe County, and the warning landed hard for anyone who has ever rolled out a mat beside a goat, rabbit, or puppy. The agency said the parasite can spread when tiny amounts of fecal matter from infected animals are accidentally ingested, and that symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

Dr. Chad Kingsley, NNPH’s District Health Officer, said participants need to understand the risks that come with close contact with animals. NNPH said people who develop symptoms after animal contact should contact a healthcare provider. The agency also flagged other illnesses that can spread through animal contact, including salmonellosis and E. coli infections, making this more than a one-off stomach bug story for the animal-yoga crowd.

The hygiene rules NNPH laid out are the same ones event operators will be judged on now. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds after touching animals. If water is not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, though NNPH cautioned that sanitizer may not be effective against Cryptosporidium. Keep food and drinks out of animal areas. Do not kiss, cuddle, or hold the animals. Supervise children closely. Farms and studios hosting these classes were told to provide accessible handwashing stations, prohibit food and strollers in animal areas, and clean and disinfect soiled surfaces, including yoga mats, without delay.

The concern sharpened after a local participant told Our Town Reno they attended a goat yoga class on April 12 and later learned they and three friends got Cryptosporidium. The participant said they had pre-existing digestive disease and described the illness as severe, with a few of them still debilitated as of May 1. In that account, they alleged there were no handwashing stations at the event and said the group relied on hand sanitizer.

An advertisement cited in the same reporting promoted baby goat yoga at Ferrari Farms on April 11 and 12 for $25 per person. Ferrari Farms did not respond to a call for comment. For anyone planning to attend live animal yoga in Reno, Sparks, or elsewhere in Washoe County, the checklist is now plain: look for real handwashing stations, watch how animals are handled between sets, avoid eating near the mats, and leave if the setup cannot keep fecal contamination off the floor and out of your hands.