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| Under-fives 'should shun animals' | Under-fives 'should shun animals' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Parents should not allow under-fives to touch animals at petting farms, a microbiologist has said amid E.coli fears involving four sites. | Parents should not allow under-fives to touch animals at petting farms, a microbiologist has said amid E.coli fears involving four sites. |
| Professor Hugh Pennington said they were "most likely to touch the animals" and "the most difficult part of the population to get to wash their hands". | Professor Hugh Pennington said they were "most likely to touch the animals" and "the most difficult part of the population to get to wash their hands". |
| Professor Pennington also called for a review of guidelines on petting farms. | Professor Pennington also called for a review of guidelines on petting farms. |
| Closure of parts of a Devon farm on Friday made it the fourth attraction forced to shut owing to E.coli fears. | Closure of parts of a Devon farm on Friday made it the fourth attraction forced to shut owing to E.coli fears. |
| Professor Pennington said that parents should not "abandon the idea of visiting" petting farms, but they should "think very hard" about letting children under five touch the animals. | Professor Pennington said that parents should not "abandon the idea of visiting" petting farms, but they should "think very hard" about letting children under five touch the animals. |
| That age group was "for all sorts of reasons ... the people most at risk", he said. | That age group was "for all sorts of reasons ... the people most at risk", he said. |
| Hand-washing was "absolutely crucial" to protect visitors to petting farms, and under-fives "haven't learned how to do it yet". | Hand-washing was "absolutely crucial" to protect visitors to petting farms, and under-fives "haven't learned how to do it yet". |
| Closed voluntarily | Closed voluntarily |
| He added: "These very young kids are the most likely part of the population to get complications if they get infected." | He added: "These very young kids are the most likely part of the population to get complications if they get infected." |
| Professor Ron Cutler, an expert on infectious diseases at Queen Mary University of London, said more needed to be done to enable children to keep visiting petting farms and zoos. | Professor Ron Cutler, an expert on infectious diseases at Queen Mary University of London, said more needed to be done to enable children to keep visiting petting farms and zoos. |
| Operators should think about giving visitors nail brushes to clean their hands after touching animals, he said. | Operators should think about giving visitors nail brushes to clean their hands after touching animals, he said. |
| "We have to put some sort of logical controls in," he added. | "We have to put some sort of logical controls in," he added. |
| Forty-nine cases of E.coli have been linked to a Surrey farm | |
| World of Country Life, in Exmouth, voluntarily closed its petting areas and deer train ride following infections in three children who visited the farm last month - although the farm has not been confirmed as the source. | World of Country Life, in Exmouth, voluntarily closed its petting areas and deer train ride following infections in three children who visited the farm last month - although the farm has not been confirmed as the source. |
| Four people became infected after visiting White Post Farm at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, though no direct link has been confirmed there. | Four people became infected after visiting White Post Farm at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, though no direct link has been confirmed there. |
| Forty-nine cases of E.coli have been linked to Godstone Farm in Surrey, with its sister farm - Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom - also closing because of hygiene concerns. | Forty-nine cases of E.coli have been linked to Godstone Farm in Surrey, with its sister farm - Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom - also closing because of hygiene concerns. |
| Professor Pennington said: "Clearly I think the public expects that we have a really good look at the guidelines. | Professor Pennington said: "Clearly I think the public expects that we have a really good look at the guidelines. |
| "And also to look at the way the guidelines are being implemented - it's all very well having guidelines if people are not following them." | "And also to look at the way the guidelines are being implemented - it's all very well having guidelines if people are not following them." |
| Professor Pennington has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales. | Professor Pennington has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales. |
| Rare strain | Rare strain |
| Nine children are being treated in hospital with Godstone Farm-linked infections; one is due to be allowed home later on Saturday, with the others remaining in a stable condition, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). | Nine children are being treated in hospital with Godstone Farm-linked infections; one is due to be allowed home later on Saturday, with the others remaining in a stable condition, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). |
| Lab tests have identified the most serious E.coli strain, 0157, which can cause serious kidney damage in a small proportion of cases. | Lab tests have identified the most serious E.coli strain, 0157, which can cause serious kidney damage in a small proportion of cases. |
| There are more than 20,000 reported E.coli infections a year, many among elderly hospital patients, but 0157 cases are rare. | There are more than 20,000 reported E.coli infections a year, many among elderly hospital patients, but 0157 cases are rare. |
| There were just 950 cases of 0157 in England and Wales last year. | There were just 950 cases of 0157 in England and Wales last year. |
| Earlier this week, the HPA apologised for delays in its handling of the Godstone Farm outbreak and announced that an external investigation would be carried out. | Earlier this week, the HPA apologised for delays in its handling of the Godstone Farm outbreak and announced that an external investigation would be carried out. |
| The HPA had said the first case came to light on 27 August but it later emerged that the agency received a report of two cases a week before. | The HPA had said the first case came to light on 27 August but it later emerged that the agency received a report of two cases a week before. |
| Are you or is someone you know affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you or is someone you know affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |