A popular petting zoo has been hit with a substantial fine after a major health outbreak left hundreds of visitors, predominantly children, infected with a dangerous parasite.
Widespread Infection and Hospitalisations
A total of 264 people fell ill with the Cryptosporidium parasite after visiting Hazelgrove Farm on the Isle of Wight. The court heard that a significant portion of those affected were children, with around five percent of the infected requiring overnight hospital stays as parents feared for their children's lives from the life-threatening illness.
The parasitic outbreak resulted in substantial disruption, with parents also catching the infection. This led to 1,254 working days being lost due to illness or caring for sick family members. Some affected guests continue to suffer from gastrointestinal issues, while others have endured multiple hospital stays since the incident.
Safety Failings and Court Proceedings
Owner Sharon Wheeler, 60, from Ryde, pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates' Court to a safety offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The court heard disturbing details, including children being witnessed kissing goats that were visibly covered in faeces.
A joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) traced the infections back to an animal bottle-feeding event at the farm. Between April 4 and May 1, 2023, the farm sold 2,400 tickets for the event where visitors could purchase a bottle to feed a lamb or goat kid.
Alarmingly, more than 30 percent of attendees at the feeding event became infected. The investigation uncovered multiple safety failings, including inadequate washing and drying facilities where guests used reusable washcloths.
Lasting Consequences and Official Warning
District Judge Rachel Galloway, while delivering her judgment, highlighted the psychological toll on victims, mentioning cases of PTSD. She noted that parents had genuinely feared their children might never recover from the life-threatening parasite.
Wheeler received an £8,000 fine and was ordered to pay £9,528.35 in costs plus a £3,200 surcharge, bringing the total financial penalty to over £20,000.
Following the hearing, HSE inspector Francesca Arnold emphasised that health risks from animal contact need proper attention and must be controlled. She stated that if zoonotic risks had been properly managed, this serious incident could have been avoided.
"The failures during the animal feeding activity meant a large number of visitors became ill, and some suffered lasting effects," Ms Arnold said. She added that while farm visits can never be completely risk-free, implementing proper control measures and safe practices helps reduce risk levels while still providing valuable recreational and educational experiences.
