Keep infection at bay

Ahead of the petting farm season, the HPA is reminding people, especially those with responsibility for young children, to enjoy their farm visits safely by ensuring good hand hygiene after touching farm animals or their surroundings.

Outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness associated with contact with farm animals, peak in the spring and summer as this coincides with schools holidays when visits to petting farms tend to be more popular, although outbreaks can occur at other times.

Dr Ken Lamden, the HPA’s North West lead for gastro-intestinal infections, said: “At this time of year we usually see a rise in cases of gastrointestinal infections including cryptosporidiosis, E.coli 0157, salmonella, campylobacter and giardia. We wouldn’t wish to discourage farm visits, but people need to remember that a range of infections can be passed on through contact with animals unless care is taken to avoid them.

“It is very important for parents and children to make full use of the washing facilities that are provided at open farms. They should wash their hands thoroughly after contact with the animals, before eating and before putting fingers near their mouths.”

“It’s also very important to remember that hand gels or wipes have their uses in areas that are generally clean, such as offices or hospitals, but they are not effective in completely removing from soiled hands bugs such as E.coli or Cryptosporidium that are commonly found in animal droppings and on contaminated surfaces around farms. This is why washing the hands thoroughly with soap and water is so important - it is the only way to effectively remove the bacteria and reduce the risk of becoming unwell.”

Advice to parents and teachers taking children on farm visits:

• Parents and teachers should check that the farm offers good hand washing facilities to include hot water, soap and paper towels
• Children and their supervisors should always wash hands carefully after touching animals and other farm objects, especially before eating and drinking

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

• Ensure all family members take great care with hand washing to avoid spreading infection]
• Hand washing should be vigorous with hot water and soap and is particularly important after visiting the toilet, changing nappies or handling soiled fabrics and before preparing food or eating
• Regular and thorough cleaning of surfaces such as toilet seats, flush handles and taps is essential to control infection
• After an episode of infectious gastric illness, children should stay away from school until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.