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Cute farm animals can pose real health risks

Published: Tue 2 Sep 2014 03:14 PM
Cute farm animals can pose real health risks
People are being urged to take extra care around calves, lambs and other new born farm animals this Spring.
Dr Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, says serious diseases can be caught from farm animals.
"Farm animals may look cute and harmless but if you don't wash your hands thoroughly after touching them you can catch serious diseases," Dr Humphrey says.
The diseases that can be caught from touching young animals such as lambs include:
• Yersina
• Tetanus
• Cryptosporidium
• Salmonella
• VTEC (E.Coli 0157)
• Campylobacter
• Giardia
• Ringworm
“Spring is the time of year when stomach bugs are most prevalent in Canterbury. Spring is a busy time on farms and in meat works, and people are in close contact with animals. Often this includes workers or visitors who don’t usually deal with animals.
“Children are the people most at risk as they are the most difficult part of the population to get to wash their hands when feeding farm animals. Children on farms need to be reminded to wash their hands regularly,” Dr Humphrey says.
He says this is a serious health issue.
“Last year a young Canterbury girl was being treated at Starship Hospital after contracting a strain of E. coli while feeding a lamb. Fortunately she is lucky to have made a full recovery thanks to the intensive care she received as early on in her illness her prognosis was bleak,” Dr Humphrey says.
ends
Canterbury District Health Board
CDHB
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.
We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.
At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.
Contact Canterbury DHB
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Media Contact:
natasha.capon@cdhb.health.nz

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