East Midlands families urged to wash hands on Easter farm visits to combat harmful bugs

Credit: Onclusive News for UKHSA

With the Easter holidays fast approaching, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding families planning visits to farms and petting zoos to make sure they wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching animals, fences and other surfaces to avoid picking up harmful infections that can cause serious illnesses.

In 2024, there were 362 reported cases of cryptosporidium in the East Midlands.

Farm animals naturally carry bugs including cryptosporidium, E.coli and salmonella, which can be passed to humans through direct contact with animals, their droppings, or contaminated surfaces like fences and gates. Some of these infections can be very serious, particularly for young children and pregnant women.

Dr Jharna Kumbang, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at UKHSA East Midlands, said: “Farm visits are a fun experience for families, however there is a small risk of catching infections from the animals or the environment. Farm animals can carry germs that are invisible to the naked eye.

“Even if your hands look clean, they may not be. Washing thoroughly with soap and warm water straight after touching animals, and before eating, is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your children. Hand gels and wipes won’t work – they don’t remove the bugs found in farm dirt.

People need to be particularly careful when handling lambs, as cryptosporidium can be easily picked up from them.”

Annabel Shackleton from LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) said: “We want people to continue enjoying and learning from farm visits safely. The key is thorough handwashing with soap and running water immediately after touching animals or their enclosures, and always before eating. Adults should supervise children to make sure they wash their hands properly every time.”

How to stay safe during a farm visit

Always:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after touching animals, fences or surfaces in animal areas, and before eating or drinking
• Eat and drink only in designated picnic areas or cafés
• Supervise children closely to ensure they wash their hands properly
• Clean any soiled footwear and pushchair wheels before leaving, then wash your hands again

Never:

• Put fingers in mouths or hands on faces while around animals
• Allow children to put their faces close to animals
• Eat, drink or chew gum while walking around the farm or touching animals
• Return a child’s dummy, comforter or toy if it has fallen on the ground, until items have been washed thoroughly
• Rely on hand gels or wipes instead of soap and water

What to do if you feel unwell after a farm visit
If you or anyone in your group develops diarrhoea, vomiting or stomach pains within two weeks of visiting a farm, contact your GP or call NHS 111. If anyone, particularly a young child, has blood in their diarrhoea, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Anyone with symptoms should stay away from work, school or childcare until they have been free of diarrhoea and vomiting for at least 48 hours. If diagnosed with cryptosporidium, avoid swimming for two weeks after symptoms clear, as the parasite is resistant to chlorine.