06 July, 2011

Nowadays we are constantly being reminded of the importance of cleanliness and hygiene, and how it can help to reduce the spread of infections and viruses. It's not just infections from other humans that we need to protect ourselves against, however. Anyone who lives or works on a farm is also at risk of catching a zoonosis from the animals they care for.

Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, for example orf, bovine tuberculosis, cowpox and E-coli. E-coli O157 is particularly dangerous - especially to the elderly and to young children, in whom it can cause kidney failure.

Premises such as farms, which house large numbers or types of animals, can provide ideal conditions for the spread of zoonoses if they are not properly cleaned and maintained. Many zoonoses need very little contact to pass from animal to human, meaning people can easily be infected.

Although there are now around 40 zoonoses in the UK, most can be easily treated with medicines and clear up quickly. Some can take longer to treat, however - involving hospitalisation in serious cases - and can even leave the person with long-term effects.

If you work or live on a farm, it is worth carrying out a few precautionary measures to limit your chances of catching a zoonosis. The benefits of basic hygiene and cleanliness should never be underestimated; simple things like washing your hands after touching animals or working in an area in which they live, making sure the animals have clean bedding and water at all times, and ensuring water and food bowls/troughs are kept clean are all vitally important.

Bear in mind that zoonoses are subject to Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations and as such, farmers are required, by law, to assess the health risks inherent to their working activities. Farmers are also required to implement and regularly monitor control measures - such as cleaning procedures, signage etc - and to train any employees they might have on the risks involved in their work and how they can prevent being infected by a zoonosis.  

It is worth considering wearing protective clothing when working with farm animals, particularly where there is a risk of coming into contact with animal waste products or blood. As well as this, farmers who employ workers should provide adequate onsite hand-washing facilities, and consider offering their staff first aid training.

Of course it is also advisable to monitor the general health of your animals on a regular basis. Any animal showing signs of illness should be separated from other animals until a vet has treated the animal and confirmed that it has returned to good health. It may be worth considering a farm health plan - put together in consultation with your local vet - to try and minimise the risk of zoonoses occurring in the first place.

Other precautionary measures which farmer workers might like to consider include limiting the movement and mingling of animals, and sanitising equipment which comes into contact with animals after each use.

For further information on how you can prevent the spread of disease amongst animals on your farm, and the transmission of zoonoses to humans, visit the Health and Safety Executive's website: www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/zoonoses.htm.