Monmouthshire farm investigated after visitors test positive for parasite

Cryptosporidium is a disease that is very common in young farm animals (stock photo)
Cryptosporidium is a disease that is very common in young farm animals (stock photo)

A number of visitors to a Monmouthshire farm have tested positive for a microscopic parasite that causes a diarrheal disease.

Public Health Wales, Torfaen County Borough Council and Monmouthshire County Council are investigating an outbreak of cryptosporidium at Coleg Gwent’s farm in Usk.

Three people have tested positive for cryptosporidium and eight others are under investigation after a regular attendance at the farm.

Heather Lewis, a consultant in health protection for Public Health Wales, said: “Cryptosporidium is a disease that is very common in young farm animals and can easily be passed to people who come into contact with those animals.

“All the confirmed cases had direct contact with the lambs at the college farm. As part of our investigations, we are checking on all those whom we believe had contact with these animals and Coleg Gwent is co­operating fully with our investigations.

What is cryptosporidium?

Cryptosporidium infection is an illness caused by tiny cryptosporidium parasites. When cryptosporidia enter your body, they travel to your small intestine and then burrow into the walls of your intestines.

It is the biggest cause of human gastrointestinal infection in Britain.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache and weight loss.

Ms Lewis said: “Cryptosporidium is a disease that is very common in young farm animals and can easily be passed to people who come into contact with those animals.

“It causes watery diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, and can last for up to a month. Healthy people will usually make a full recovery.”

“Good hand washing after coming into contact with farm animals is of the utmost importance in preventing infection with cryptosporidium,” Ms Lewis said.

“There is no reason for anyone to avoid visiting petting farms as long as they ensure that anyone who has touched animals, thoroughly washes their hands with hot water and soap immediately afterwards.”