THE Health Protection Agency North West is advising parents planning to take children on farm visits to observe strict hygiene rules after touching or stroking animals to avoid a range of potentially serious infections.

Dr Hilary Thurston, the HPA’s lead for gastro-intestinal infections in Cheshire and Merseyside, said cases of cryptosporidiosis, e-coli and other stomach bugs and infections increase in Spring and are often linked to farm visits and handling animals like lambs.

Visitors must always wash hands carefully after touching animals and other farm objects, especially before eating or drinking, and clean their wellies and pushchairs afterwards.