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Under-fives 'should shun animals' Under-fives 'should shun animals'
(about 1 hour 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". Prof Hugh Pennington said they were the most likely people to touch animals but the hardest to get to wash their hands.
Professor Pennington also called for a review of guidelines on petting farms. The British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums said animal handling should be safe with the "right precautions".
Closure of parts of a Devon farm on Friday made it the fourth attraction forced to shut owing to E.coli fears. Two petting farms in Surrey, one in Nottinghamshire and one in Devon have shut attractions 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. Prof 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.
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".
It's so good for the children - one would hate to get to the stage where we had to stop them doing it Miranda StevensonBritish & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums
"These very young kids are the most likely part of the population to get complications if they get infected," he added.
But Miranda Stevenson, director of the British & Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums, said: "With the right precautions it should be safe.
"There are very strict licensing regulations for zoos; in any areas where animals are handled it's always under supervision, and there are always either gels or washing facilities.
"The message to parents is to make sure that children wash their hands or put gel on their hands, after they have handled animals."
She added: "It's so good for the children - one would hate to get to the stage where we had to stop them doing it."
Closed voluntarilyClosed voluntarily
He added: "These very young kids are the most likely part of the population to get complications if they get infected." Hundreds of members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website with the majority expressing opposition to a ban on the petting of animals.
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.
"We have to put some sort of logical controls in," he added.
Forty-nine cases of E.coli have been linked to a Surrey farmForty-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. Prof 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.
Prof Pennington, who has led inquiries into E.coli outbreaks in central Scotland and south Wales, 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."
World of Country Life, in Exmouth, Devon, 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.
"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.
Rare strainRare 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). The Health Protection Agency says that, while infection risks are reduced by sites being well regulated and run, there would always be some E.coli risk from farm animals and their environment.
Whether to stay away from such attractions is "a decision for parents based on a balance of risks", its advice says.
The HPA says: "Farm visits can be great fun and very educational and as long as basic, thorough hand hygiene measures after contact with the animals there, or indeed any animals, are followed, risks of infections can be significantly reduced."
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 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 about 20,000 cases of E.coli reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland every year but last year just 950 cases in England and Wales were the 0157 strain.
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.
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.
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