For both children and adults alike visiting a farm is an enjoyable experience but it's important to remember that contact with farm animals carries a risk of infection.
Themes
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Farm visits
- Countryside activities
- Hand hygiene
Locality
All/rural
Aims
Enjoying farm visits and countryside activities safely.
Details
Visiting a farm is a very enjoyable experience for both children and adults alike but it's important to remember that contact with farm animals carries a risk of infection because of the microorganisms - or germs - they naturally carry.
Individual cases of illness and outbreaks linked to petting farms have been reported in North Yorkshire and children are particularly at risk.
Common types of illness include infection with cryptosporidiosis, E.coli 0157 and salmonella.
All of these bacteria live in the gut of the animals so people can get infected within the farm setting mainly in two ways - either by touching animals in the petting and feeding areas or by coming into contact with animal droppings on contaminated surfaces around the farm. These harmful bacteria can get accidentally passed to your mouth by putting hands on faces or fingers in mouths before washing them thoroughly. It only takes a small number of the bacteria to cause infection.
Cases of E.coli linked to farm attractions are at their highest levels between June and October and cases of cryptosporidiosis are often associated with the lambing season in spring.
Work with the owners and managers of farm attractions is ongoing and farms are advised to make use of the industry code of practice on how to protect visitors and staff from illness. Work is also ongoing to raise awareness of the risks associated with farm visits with parents and teachers organising school trips.
How will this case study improve health and reduce health inequalities?
North Yorkshire has high rates of gastrointestinal illness compared with the rest of the country. Work aims to reduce the risk of infection from this particular setting.
Contact details
Dr Simon Padfield, consultant in communicable disease control
Public Health England
Tel: 01904 687100
Email: simon.padfield@phe.gov.uk
Web: http://www.gov.uk/government/news/illness-linked-to-petting-farms-phe-reminds-everyone-to-practise-good-hand-hygiene
