Bug warning aims to prevent Easter outbreak repeat

Families in Worcestershire are being warned of the dangers of catching harmful infections from animals ahead of this Easter weekend, after a recent outbreak.

Prof Lisa McNally, director of public health in the county, said while visiting farms and petting zoos was a "great way for families to get outdoors" it did come with risks.

"It's important to remember that these environments can also carry germs that make people unwell," she said.

Her comments come two years after Gannow Farm in Inkberrow suffered an outbreak of Cryptosporidium.

At the time, the attraction, which featured interactive experiences with animals, was temporarily closed and refunds were issued.

A mother from Redditch also claimed at the time that her four-year-old daughter lost more than half her body weight after catching a parasitic infection from the attraction.

The illness started six days after the family went to the farm over that Easter holidays.

"She weighed 2st 7lb (15.9kg) and when I weighed her at the end of it she weighed 1st 1lb (6.4kg)," Michelle said.

"She was the weight of a baby not a four-year-old. It was horrendous."

A spokesperson for the attraction in 2024 said its thoughts were "with the families and children who have been ill in this difficult time".

McNally said bugs could "easily be picked up through simple hand-to-mouth contact".

"The best protection is thorough handwashing with soap and warm water as soon as you finish handling animals and always before eating," she said.

"Hand gels and wipes don't remove the kinds of germs found in soil and farm environments.

"Lambing season brings an extra risk, as Cryptosporidium can be passed on very easily from young animals.

"These infections can cause severe stomach illness, particularly in young children and pregnant women, so taking a moment to wash hands properly really does make a difference."

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