HPA North West Reissues Advice on Farm Visits

27 May 2009

The reminder is being issued because farm visits are popular with parents and school parties at this time of the year and all animals, even domestic pets, can carry a range of infectious diseases.

Dr. Ken Lamden, the HPA's North West lead for gastro-intestinal infections, said: "We tend to see more cases of cryptosporidiosis, E.coli 0157, salmonella, campylobacter and giardia at this time of the year and these are often associated with parents and teachers taking children to visit farms.

"Farm visits are great fun. They are educational and we wouldn't wish to discourage them, but anyone having contact with animals should remember to wash their hands really well before eating or drinking or putting their fingers close to their mouths." 

Cryptosporidiosis results from exposure to the parasite cryptosporidium that is carried by many animals and is particularly common during and following the lambing season. It isn't usually a serious infection and in most cases the symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhoea settle in a few days.

However, in few cases cryptosporidiosis can be unpleasant with diarrhoea lasting for several weeks. Occasionally patients need to be admitted to hospital.

E.coli O157, another risk from contact with animals, can be particularly serious for younger children.

The HPA North West advice to parents and teachers taking children on farm visits is:

• Check that there are good hand-washing facilities at the farm with hot water, soap and paper towels.
• Children and their supervisors should wash their hands carefully after touching the animals and other farm objects and especially before eating or drinking.
• 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.

Advice to parents and guardians of children who have picked up a tummy bug after a visit to a farm is:

• Ensure that all family members take great care with hand-washing because illness can be transmitted by person-to-person contact or by contact with contaminated surfaces.
• Hand-washing should be rigorous with hot water and soap and is particularly important after going to the toilet, changing nappies or handling soiled fabrics.
• Hand-washing is vitally important before preparing food and before eating.
• Thorough and regular cleaning of surfaces such as toilet seats, flush handles and taps is essential in infection control.
• Children should stay away from school following an episode of infectious gastric illness until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours. They should not go swimming until they have been symptom-free for two weeks.

Note to editors

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel. 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508.

Last reviewed: 27 May 2009