Advice on farm visits

A visit to an open farm offers a fun day out with many benefits for both adults and children.

Shropshire Council’s public protection team is reminding anyone planning a visit in the coming months that they can take a few simple precautions to ensure they enjoy the experience to the full.

People are advised, in line with Health Protection Agency guidance, not to rely on sanitising hand gels or wipes to protect themselves or their children against germs that may be present in animal dirt around the farm.

To minimise the risk of illness, the team recommends that both adults and children thoroughly wash their hands using soap and hot water after they have handled animals or touched surfaces at the farm, and always before eating or drinking.

Alun Mears, team leader, health and safety, said:

“A farm visit will be a highlight for many children this spring and summer.  And although the risk of becoming unwell is very low in light of the millions of visits every year, on average around three annual outbreaks of illness are linked to visits to petting farms.

“The source of these outbreaks is generally contact with germs from animal droppings.  Therefore it is important to avoid direct contact with animal droppings and to be aware of the importance of good hand hygiene.

“As soon as you have finished petting the animals we would advise washing your hands using soap and hot water and then drying them thoroughly.  This is more effective than using hand gels which cannot remove contamination as well as soap and water can.  We’d also recommend that children are supervised when washing their hands as they are more at risk of serious disease.”

He added that hand gels, while recommended for use in areas which are generally clean, are not effective in killing bugs such as E.coli or Cryptosporidium which can be found in animal droppings and on contaminated surfaces around farms.

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental health, said:

“A visit to an open farm offers both an enjoyable and educational experience.

“However we’d just like to remind people that contact with farm animals carries a risk of infection because of the bacteria – or germs – they naturally carry, and just a little extra attention to hand washing minimises the risk of picking up any infections.  Taking a few simple precautions can help ensure that children and families can make the most of an enjoyable day out without the risk of suffering any illness.”

Research by the Health Protection Agency shows that between 1992 and 2009, 1,300 people were reported to have fallen ill following a farm visit, of whom 113 were hospitalised.  Illness ranged from mild through to severe diarrhoea and occasionally more serious conditions.

Where to find further information

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new guidance for owners and managers of visitor attractions on preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact.  This guidance includes a supplement for teachers and others who organise visits for children.

The HPA, Department of Health and Defra have jointly produced a leaflet for the public ‘Avoiding infection on farm visits’.  For more details go to the HPA website.