Health and Nutrition
Tighten up farm visits, says E.Coli inquiry
Petting farms need stricter guidelines in place to protect children from E.Coli, following the UK's biggest outbreak of the infection last year, says an expert report.
The independent inquiry by George Griffin, professor of infectious diseases and medicine at St George's, University of London, calls for open farms to educate visitors on the risk of infection from handling animals before and during a visit.
Last summer, 76 children were treated for E.Coli 0157 following a visit to Godstone Farm in Surrey (News, 23 September 2009).
The report, commissioned by the Health Protection Agency, says the outbreak could have been avoided if more attention had been given to preventing visitors being exposed to animal faecal matter.
It warns that there is a low level of understanding among parents and carers of the risk of E.coli infections from contact with farm animals and that handwashing alone is insufficient.
The report makes a number of recommendations for open farms, the health service, the Health Protection Agency and the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS). They include developing an approved code of practice for open farms and reviewing and improving existing guidance on health and safety.
Paul Bettison, chair of LACORS, said, 'While E.Coli is a very serious illness for children, the risk of catching it from a visit to an open farm is extremely low.
'The important thing now is to establish the right middle-ground between safety and enjoyment for millions of children. Children, particularly those who live in cities, have a great deal to gain from visiting a farm. The burden of safety inspection mustn't become so high that children can't make regular visits to farms.'
Further information
See A Doctor's Diary, p22.
For the inquiry report go to www.griffininvestigation.org.uk
