Advice on Farm Visits

15 May 2009

The advice is being issued after children from a number of schools in the Carlisle area developed diarrhoeal illness following recent farm visits. Five children have confirmed cryptosporidiosis, a generally mild illness caused by exposure to the parasite cryptosporidium, which is carried by a number of different animals and is particularly common in the lambing season.

Dr. Sohail Ashraf, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with the HPA's Cumbria and Lancashire Health Protection Unit, said: "Cryptosporidium is a bug that can cause diarrhoea and abdominal pain. It isn't usually a serious infection and in most cases the diarrhoea settles on its own in a few days.

"However, in a few cases cryptosporidiosis can be unpleasant. Sometimes the diarrhoea can last for several weeks and on rare occasions people need to be admitted to hospital.

"We are investigating the cause of illness amongst the Carlisle schoolchildren, but as they had been on a farm visit, that is clearly one line of enquiry. We tend to see an increase in bacterial and parasitic infections at this time of the year and these are often associated with farm visits.

"Cryptosporidiosis is an infection that people can pick up by handling or stroking animals. The cryptosporidium bug is carried by many different types of animal, including farm animals and is especially common at lambing time.

"Farm visits can be great fun and very educational and there is no reason for not visiting farms, but it is important to remember that if people do have contact with farm animals, or indeed any animals, they should be careful to wash their hands really well before eating or drinking or putting their fingers in their mouths."

It is wise to follow this advice:

• Parents and teachers should check the hygiene facilities at the farm to ensure there are good handwashing facilities with hot water, soap and paper towels.
• Children and their supervisors should always wash hands carefully after touching the animals and other farm objects and especially before eating or drinking.
• It is important to ensure that children do not eat or drink or put their fingers in their mouths whilst close to animals and before washing their hands.
• If at all possible, clean wellingtons and pushchair wheels before leaving the farm and wash hands immediately after cleaning them.

Note to editors

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel. 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508. Alternatively contact Mark Graham at Cumbria PCT on 01768-245367 or 07770-542642.

Last reviewed: 19 May 2009