Latest news with #cryptosporidiosis
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Why you should think twice about hugging lambs this summer
Health officials have issued a warning against kissing, cuddling, or holding lambs due to an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidiosis is a severe parasitic infection that causes serious gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms including watery diarrhoea and stomach pains. Public Health Wales has advised farmers to prevent close contact between visitors and lambs this summer to curb the spread; people should also wash their hands after contact with animals. The alert follows an investigation into 74 cases of cryptosporidium linked to a petting farm in Vale of Glamorgan earlier this year, which led to 16 hospitalisations, including a four-year-old boy. There were also 17 outbreaks of the infection connected to farms across England and Wales in the previous year.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Parasite warning as farm visitors told not to kiss or hug animals during lamb feeding events
People visiting farms to feed lambs have been warned not to kiss, cuddle or hold the animals after an outbreak of a severe parasitic infection. Health officials issued the alert amid fears over the spread of cryptosporidiosis, an infection which causes serious gastrointestinal illness. According to the BBC, Public Health Wales has urged farmers not to allow visitors to have close contact with the lambs during any visits this summer. The warning comes after public health officials launched an investigation into 74 cases of cryptosporidium, which were linked to visits to a petting farm in Vale of Glamorgan earlier this year. A four-year-old boy was among the 16 people rushed to hospital with the infection. There were also 17 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis connected to farms in both England and Wales last year, the BBC reported. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illness, often associated with contact with animals, especially young farm animals such as calves and lambs. The main symptoms of an infection include watery diarrhoea, stomach pains or cramps, nausea or vomiting, mild fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Symptoms usually start two to 10 days after contact with the parasite and can last for up to two weeks. Following the Vale of Glamorgan outbreak, public health experts warned people to avoid close contact with animals – including holding, cuddling or kissing – as this 'significantly' increases the risk of illness. While anyone is at risk of getting infected, it is particularly common among young children aged one to four. The parents of the four-year-old boy who was rushed to hospital spoke of their 'nightmare' ordeal at the time. Michael Carpenter, from Bridgend, visited Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, with his grandparents on 11 April. He followed the rules, washing his hands and using a hand sanitiser after stroking some lambs, but three days later, Michael's temperature rose and he suffered severe diarrhoea. He was later diagnosed with cryptosporidium. The boy's mother Kate told the BBC: 'It was an absolute nightmare.' Speaking of the parasite, his father Gareth said: 'It's only when something happens that you realise how serious it is. I would hate to see another parent go through the same thing.' How people can avoid cryptosporidium The UK Health Security Agency says that 'the good news is that cryptosporidiosis is preventable by following some simple hygiene steps'. Here are the agency's top tips to avoid infection:
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Cryptosporidium warning as people told not to cuddle and kiss lambs
Visitors to farms for lamb feeding events are being warned not to kiss, cuddle and hold the animals after an outbreak of a parasitic infection that causes serious gastrointestinal Health Wales (PHW) has advised farmers running the events to avoid offering close contact with were 17 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis linked to farms in England and Wales in 2024, while earlier this year more than 80 people fell ill due to infections linked to a petting farm in Vale of infection led to 16 people requiring hospital care for at least one night, including a four-year-old boy. A report by PHW said people who had closer levels of contact were much more likely to become ill with cryptosporidium than those who did not touch the report from the health body came after a large cryptosporidium outbreak in spring 2024 where more than 200 people became ill, 18 of whom attended hospital. Children under the age of 10 were four times more likely to become unwell, it said. Cryptosporidium is commonly associated with contact with farm animals, and can spread easily from person to person and poses increased risk to young children and those with weakened immune typically appear two to 10 days after exposure and can last up to two advice is one of a range of recommendations made in a report into a large cryptosporidium outbreak among people. Gareth Carpenter and Kate Wiejak's son Michael visited Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, with his grandmother, Margaret Carpenter, on 11 April this couple from Bridgend said Margaret "made sure" Michael washed his hands afterwards, and also used hand by 14 April, while the family were on holiday in Spain, Michael started to feel unwell, with a raised temperature and diarrhoea. He continued to be very unwell throughout the night and so, the following morning, they called the emergency medical services who advised them to take Michael to said Michael had a serious infection and he spent three days in hospital. On their return to Wales, Michael still had a "bad belly" and so they took him to see a GP on 22 April, who requested a stool said he received a call from PHW the following day to say the test result had shown Michael was infected with Kate and Gareth later became unwell with similar, but much milder, symptoms and Gareth said he was still experiencing stomach cramps, more than four weeks after Michael's contact with the animals. Other recommendations in the report included better provision of handwashing facilities, including basins with hot and cold running water, liquid soap and paper sanitiser or alcohol gel is not effective against cryptosporidium, PHW added there should also be prominent signage advising people to wash their hands regularly while they are on the premises and visitors should ensure clothing is washed as soon as possible after the should be aware of existing guidance when planning open farm events, and provide visitors with information about the infection risks involved when booking events. What is cryptosporidium? Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that can cause an unpleasant and sometimes dangerous illness called cryptosporidiosisIt lives in the intestines of infected humans and animals and is passed out in their faecesIt can then spread to water sources like lakes, rivers, and swimming pools, as well as food like raw milkThe illness can affect anyone but is most common in children aged one to fiveSymptoms, which can last for around two weeks, include severe watery diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, fever, and loss of appetiteThere is no specific treatment but most people feel better within a monthSource: UK Health Security Agency Dr Christopher Williams, consultant epidemiologist for PHW said lamb feeding events were increasingly popular, especially with families but could have serious consequences."This report shows that when young children have close contact with animals like lambs - when they cuddle, kiss or nuzzle their faces - then there is a significant risk of contracting the infection, which can cause serious illness and result in hospitalisation," he report recommended lamb or calf feeding was supervised and done with the animals separated from the visitors by their pens, meaning people could still bottle feed the animals but can have greater protection against illness. Dr Williams said it was "vital" any farmers planning to hold any visitor events involving animal activities familiarise themselves with the existing guidance and take all the precautions they can to ensure their visitors had a safe added PHW would also like to see farmers make visitors aware of the risks involved in having close contact with young animals, so people were educated before they attend."I would encourage any farmers who are considering opening their farms for these events to consider all the risks, and plan ahead early to enable them to make all the necessary provisions possible in order to keep their visitors safe from infection."
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Revised figures show higher numbers were hit by water parasite
An annual report has found 143 people were confirmed to have had cryptosporidiosis during an outbreak in Devon in May 2024, with four hospitalisations. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) previously confirmed 126 cases during the revised figure of 143 includes lab-confirmed Bird, consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West, said a study to estimate the impact of the outbreak in South Devon in 2024 would be published once a Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) investigation was complete. The report's authors said 'typing' was used to determine the source and routes of infections and differentiate between individual isolates of the same microorganism. 'Very rare' Thousands of home and businesses across Devon were affected by the outbreak."Drinking water outbreaks are very rare in the UK," Ms Bird said."However, cryptosporidiosis is not an uncommon infection and can be picked up from lots of different sources." Ms Bird said in most cases the symptoms, which include abdominal pain and diarrhoea, go after a few days. "However, in some cases, cryptosporidiosis can be unpleasant with diarrhoea lasting for several weeks," she said.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cryptosporidium: open farm day visitors warned over parasite risk
Tens of thousands of visitors due to attend a UK-wide open farm day this weekend have been warned about a parasitic infection that causes serious gastrointestinal were 17 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis linked to farms in England and Wales in 2024 and an outbreak in south Wales earlier this year has seen dozens of people fall to inspection reports from the past five years - released to the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act - some farms repeatedly ignored health inspectors' advice and allowed children to handle sick animals in filthy organisers of Open Farm Sunday, which sees 190,000 visitors, said its farms have high health and safety standards. Cryptosporidium can cause severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea and is spread through direct contact with animals or touching surfaces that have animal faeces on them. The young, pregnant women and those with health conditions which affect their immune system can be particularly Health Wales said individual cases of cryptosporidiosis linked to visits to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, this spring had now risen to 89 England, one of those affected after a farm visit was Emily Fryer's six-year-old son was admitted to hospital after falling ill following a visit to Gannow Farm in Worcestershire last Fryer told the BBC: "He didn't eat or drink for about five days. He just slept all the time. His sugars were dangerously low and they admitted him. "Obviously, I was really worried then. Because he is autistic and non-verbal, we didn't really know how we could help him." Mrs Fryer said the family had taken hygiene seriously when they visited the farm and had washed their hands thoroughly using facilities provided on site. A year earlier the farm had been issued with a prohibition notice by the Health and Safety Executive because it was failing to prevent or control the risk of exposure to cryptosporidium. Those issues were dealt with and the farm was licensed to show animals to the public in Fryer said she was disappointed that the farm had been allowed to reopen to visitors."I just think it's awful," she owners of the farm, which has now stopped its open days, declined to comment when approached by the BBC but have previously said they had "made every precaution possible" to prevent an farms across the UK have had to diversify their businesses over recent years to boost their profitability, with public open days, petting farms and play barns becoming an important source of inspection reports released to the BBC under the Freedom Information Act by the UK's national cryptosporidium reference unit show that a small number of farms are not meeting health and safety standards - and, in extreme cases, are ignoring warnings from one farm in Wales, which was linked to a number of outbreaks, inspectors found sick animals kept on display and a lack of handwashing facilities, risk assessments and staff training. According to reports, the inspectors told the farm those failings were "consistent with those identified previously. This indicates you are failing to maintain the required improvements from one season to the next". Another farm visited in 2023 had also failed to implement recommendations from a previous inspection, which led to another outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, while another farm, due to host a school visit a few days after inspection, was found to be failing."Comparing current visit to last year found the conditions worse," the report noted. 'Huge task' The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the 16 outbreaks in England last year was a provisional figure and data analysis due to be published later in the month may see that Public Health Wales and the UKHSA have warned the estimated 190,000 visitors who will be visiting the 250 farms taking part in Open Farm Sunday this weekend to make sure they take basic hygiene Hatton, an education specialist for organisers of the open farm event LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), said all its participating farmers were given advice and training on how best to keep visitors safe."We are supporting farmers to open their farms and with their risk assessments. We are on the phone with farmers checking in with them throughout the planning process and helping them to understand how to ensure that that visit goes smoothly and everyone goes home happy and healthy," she farm manager who says he is ensuring the highest health and safety standards for visitors on Sunday is Andy Bason, who will be welcoming around 2,000 visitors onto Newhouse Farm, Alresford, said LEAF's health and safety training had "really opened my eyes to what's needed to host this kind of event"."With the kind of numbers we see, it is a huge task. We want everyone to come here, have a great day and go home safe without any illness," he National Farmers' Union (NFU) said that the health and safety of all visitors to farms was "taken extremely seriously".
