By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 09:53, Saturday, 16 May 2009

Cumbrian health chiefs have issued urgent advice about farm visits after confirming that four children were stricken by a stomach bug carried by cattle and lambs.

Symptoms of the cryptosporidium bug usually include severe stomach pains, fever and diarrhoea.

The Health Protection Agency confirmed the cases yesterday and said they were investigating an unspecified number of other possible cases, all in the Carlisle area. The infections came after a number of recent farm visits, health officials say.

One of the biggest visits – hailed a huge success by the schools involved – was to Low Wood Farm at Warwick Bridge, where 360 children from eight schools in the area went along to find out about where everyday foods come from.

About 20 children from Stanwix Primary who were on the trip have been off school with illness, including one who was confirmed as having the cryptosporidium bug.

Pauline Little, an assistant head at the school, which sent 59 children on the visit, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic visit. The farm was immaculate.

“Children were given the chance to milk a cow and stroke baby goats.

“They were given hand gel to clean their hands afterwards. And when we got back to school, we did more about washing hands than we would normally.”

Also taking part in the visit was Newlaithes School, whose headteacher Jan Massey said: “We’ve had a couple of children with sickness and diarrhoea and we’re waiting to hear from the health protection people.

“It was an absolutely brilliant day and our staff were happy with the way it was organised. It taught the children a lot in terms of how farms work and where food comes from.”

The Low Wood Farm visit was organised by the Cumberland Agricultural Society, which organises the Cumberland County Show.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) North West yesterday advised parents and children how best to reduce the risk of infection during and following farm visits.

Dr Sohail Ashraf, consultant in communicable disease control with the HPA’s Cumbria and Lancashire Health Protection Unit, said: “Cryptosporidium is a bug that can cause diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

“It isn’t usually a serious infection and in most cases the diarrhoea settles on its own in a few days.

“However, in a few cases cryptosporidiosis can be unpleasant. Sometimes the diarrhoea can last for several weeks and on rare occasions people need to be admitted to hospital.

“We are investigating the cause of illness amongst the Carlisle schoolchildren, but as they had been on a farm visit, that is clearly one line of inquiry. We tend to see an increase in bacterial and parasitic infections at this time of the year and these are often associated with farm visits.

“Cryptosporidiosis is an infection that people can pick up by handling or stroking animals. The cryptosporidium bug is carried by many different types of animal, including farm animals and is especially common at lambing time.”

The HPA issued the following advice:

• Parents and teachers should check the hygiene facilities at the farm to ensure there are good hand-washing facilities with hot water, soap and paper towels.

• Children and their supervisors should always wash hands carefully after touching animals and other farm objects, especially before eating or drinking.

• Children must not eat or drink or put their fingers in their mouths whilst close to animals and before washing their hands.

• If at all possible, clean wellingtons and pushchair wheels before leaving the farm and wash hands immediately after cleaning them.

For more information, contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or your GP or log on to the Health Protection Agency’s website www.hpa. org.uk.

First published at 08:58, Saturday, 16 May 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk