Friday, 27 January 2012
Women who are, or who may be, pregnant should avoid close contact with animals that are giving birth.
Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may risk their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections which can occur in some ewes. These include chlamydiosis (enzootic abortion of ewes – EAE), toxoplasmosis and listeriosis, which are common causes of abortion in ewes, and Q fever.
Although the number of reports of these infections and human miscarriages resulting from contact with sheep are extremely small it is important that pregnant women are aware of the potential risks.
It is also important to note that these risks are not just confined to the spring when the majority of lambs are born and that the risks are not just associated with sheep as cows and goats that have recently given birth can also carry similar infections.
To avoid the possible risk of infection, pregnant women are advised that they should:
- Not help to when ewes, cows or goats are giving birth
- Avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs, calves and kids
- Avoid contact with the afterbirth and birthing fluids and with materials (e.g. bedding) contaminated by such birth products
- Avoid handling (including washing) clothing, boots, or any materials that have come into contact with animals that have recently given birth, their young or afterbirths
- Ensure partners attending lambing ewes or other animals giving birth take appropriate health and hygiene precautions, including the wearing of personal protective equipment and adequate washing to remove any potential contamination.
In addition it is advisable to:
- Scrub hands, and keep finger nails short and clean
- Wash clothes used in birthing separately, pregnant women should not handle dirty clothes worn during the lambing season
- Sleep in separate bedrooms if it is not possible to clean up thoroughly after night-time lambing.
- Should not handle any vaccines, and should avoid contact with recently vaccinated sheep.
Pregnant women should seek medical advice if they experience fever or influenza-like symptoms, or if concerned that they could have acquired infection from a farm environment.
Farmers have a responsibility to minimise the risks to pregnant women, including members of their family, the public and professional staff visiting farms.
Comprehensive information on this topic is available from the HPA website at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1191942128199?p=1191942128199
Advice to pregnant women during the lambing season has been issued by the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) on 20 January 2012 at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/01/20/advice-to-pregnant-women-to-avoid-close-contact-with-animals-that-are-giving-birth/
