visiting a farm or animal farm this weekend?

At a petting zoo they actively encourage visitors to pet the animals. There are multiple handwashing stations with hot water and soap…

Honestly, mixing with animals, learning about them, being outside and enjoying something in nature is so good for humans of any age

infoman

Try not to pat the animals, and keep washing your hands.

Why?

Outbreak of cryptosporidium at a petting farm in Wales:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yld39vv0jo

My daughter was very very ill after contracting this disease when she was five. She spent several days in hospital and it really wasn't an experience I'd wish on anyone to see her like that. The health authorities had to be notified and we had to give them a list of everywhere we'd been in the past week or so. It was eventually traced to the water source at a place we'd stayed at in Cumbria the week beforehand. It's a very nasty illness indeed.

I fear you’re barking up the wrong tree infoman.

The DGSs love farms where they can pet the animals (as do we grownups). Plenty of mobile washing stations, plus in the loos and cafes. Up to the visitors to use them.

Thank you for the link, ViceVersa.

I am aware of the dangers of
cryptosporidium as are many others so I thought the OP was pointless without explanation.

If you are concerned about small children picking up a potentially serious illness would you take them there in the first place? I would still be worried no matter how many times they’d washed their hands.

I don’t agree with petting farms anyway.

Our DD picked up cryptosporidium at birthday party in a soft play centre 25 years ago, no animals involved.

Thank goodness for the excellent care from Turkish Airlines cabin crew the following morning on our flight to Istanbul when the bug emerged

Yes, GrannyGravy13, while this particular case obviously relates to animals - and the petting farm in particular - I think it is important to note that cryptosporidium can be picked up from other sources too.
It's obviously a very important message to get children (everyone, in fact) to wash their hands thoroughly after being in contact with animals though.

I was brought up with various animals [pets and farm animals] and - touch wood- never caught anything nasty from them. I was taught to wash my hands thoroughly and told it was important not to touch your face until you have!
The need for cleanliness is also very important for city dwellers who don't have much access to animals and wild life so perhaps it should be drilled into part of their school and family life as well.

I am amazed that some people dare to cross their front doorstep with all the risks, germs and bugs out there.
Washing your hands seems an elementary precaution especially around farms and farm animals, but I read the article too and hope that common sense will prevail.
Time to look out all those bottles of hand sanitiser we bulk bought in the pandemic.

"Time to look out all those bottles of hand sanitiser we bulk bought in the pandemic."

Maybe for a qick swig if the GCs are stressing you, but it doesn't kill cryptosporidium.

RosieandherMaw

I am amazed that some people dare to cross their front doorstep with all the risks, germs and bugs out there.
Washing your hands seems an elementary precaution especially around farms and farm animals, but I read the article too and hope that common sense will prevail.
Time to look out all those bottles of hand sanitiser we bulk bought in the pandemic.

I know what you mean. As a horse mad youngster, I spent almost every waking hour at the stables, mucking out, grooming horses and so on - then we'd sit and eat our packed lunches with probably only the most cursory 'run your hands under the tap' kind of thing, if even that.
However, having seen just how ill my daughter was, I'd certainly err on the side of caution now where children are concerned. It's not an experience I'd care to repeat.