Petting farms health reminder

PARENTS to taking their children to petting farms during the school half-term holidays are being reminded of the importance of hand washing in avoiding infection and disease.

NHS Rotherham has joined forces with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Yorkshire and the Humber to remind 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 diarrhoea and vomiting 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.

The route of transmission in these illnesses, which include the infections E. coli O157 and Cryptosporidium, is direct contact with animals in petting and feeding areas as well as contact with the droppings of animals on contaminated surfaces around farms.

Dr Wendy Phillips, unit director and consultant in communicable disease control at the South Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said: “When families may be thinking about visiting a farm in the Rotherham area, everyone needs to remember the importance of hand washing after contact with animals.

“Farm visits can be a very enjoyable experience for both children and adults and a few simple precautions will help avoid illness and ensure everyone enjoys a fun day out.

“Children need to be carefully supervised to ensure that they don’t put their hands in their mouth directly after petting the animals, which naturally carry germs.

“When everyone has finished petting and handling the animals they need to wash their hands thoroughly using soap and water and to dry them before eating.

“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 germs and reduce the risk of becoming unwell.”

Kathy Wakefield, health infection prevention manager at NHS Rotherham, added: “It’s also important that people remain vigilant when taking part in country walks, or other activities where they may come into contact with animal droppings.

“It only takes a small number of E. coli O157 germs to cause infection and so it's important to supervise children and remember to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after these activities, too.

“Remember that the risk of infection can be reduced significantly by thoroughly washing hands with soap and water after touching animals, fences or other surfaces in animal areas, before eating or drinking, after removing dirty shoes or boots that have been worn in animal areas and after handling other items used whilst taking part in these activities, such as children's prams and buggies.”

Figures from the HPA’s national surveillance system show that there were 61 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness associated with farms visits between 1992 and 2011.

Twenty two of these outbreaks (36 per cent) occurred in the last three years (2009-11).

Almost half were caused by E. coli O157 and around half were caused by Cryptosporidium.

A handful were caused by Salmonella. Overall 1,238 people were affected in these outbreaks - 1,003 people with Cryptosporidium and 235 with E. coli O157.

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