The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning to families planning farm visits over the May 4 bank holiday, urging them to avoid open-toed shoes and follow hygiene advice to reduce the risk of infection. The guidance comes as farms are expected to be among the most popular destinations for households over the long weekend.
Farm animals can carry germs that are passed to humans, causing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, nausea and body aches. The UKHSA stressed that infections can be particularly serious for young children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, with unborn babies also at risk.
The agency advised visitors to wash their hands thoroughly with liquid soap and warm running water immediately after contact with animals or their surroundings, and again at the end of the visit. Hand gels and wipes are not a substitute for proper hand washing because of the types of germs involved. Officials also recommended wearing closed-toe shoes and cleaning boots, shoes and pushchair wheels before leaving the farm.
Eating and drinking should only take place in designated picnic areas or cafes, and visitors should give animals only the specialised feed provided by the farm. After the visit, clothing that has been in contact with animals should ideally be washed at 60°C for 30 minutes.
The UKHSA warned that anyone who develops diarrhoea or vomiting within two weeks of a farm visit should contact their GP or call NHS 111. If bloody diarrhoea occurs, especially in a vulnerable person, immediate emergency medical attention is needed. Those with symptoms should not attend work, school or nursery until symptom-free for at least two days, and in some cases may require further tests before returning.
