Wash hands properly on farm visits HPA warns parents

Families are being warned to take extra care keeping their hands clean when on farm visits this Easter.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is urging people to wash their hands properly rather than relying on hand gels or wet wipes.

To reduce the risk of illness, children and adults should wash their hands using soap and water after handing animals and touching surfaces, especially before eating and drinking.

There are an average of three outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease every year which are linked to farm visits.

Illnesses can be mild but occasionally, they can develop into more serious conditions.

E.Coli 0157 (VTEC  0157), Cryptosporidium and Salmonella are behind the outbreaks, with bottle feeding lambs and thumb sucking children noted risk factors.

These occur mainly when children put fingers into their mouths after having contact with the germs in animal droppings.

The HPA say that hand gels cannot remove the germs in the same manner as soap and water.

When visiting farms, the HPA recommends the following advice:

Do not put hands on faces or fingers in mouths while petting animals or walking round the farm.

Do not kiss farm animals nor allow children to put their faces close to animals.

Do not eat or drink while touching animals or walking round the farm. This includes not eating sweets, crisps or chewing gum.

Do not eat anything that has fallen on the floor.

Do not use gels or wipes instead of washing hands with soap and water. Gels and wipes do not remove E. coli O157 that is in dirt.

Do wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you have touched animals, fences or other surfaces in animal areas.

Do wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or drinking.

Do remove and clean boots or shoes that might have become soiled and clean pushchair wheels. Then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Do supervise children closely to ensure that they wash their hands thoroughly.

Do eat and drink in picnic areas or cafes only.

HPA expert Dr Bob Adak said: “Visitors should be aware that using sanitising gels is not a substitute for washing hands as gels may fail to remove contamination in the way that soap and running water can. However using sanitising gels following handwashing with soap and water may provide extra benefit.”