More Than 70 People Infected with Parasite and 16 Hospitalized After Visiting Animal Farm
Those who have been infected visited an animal farm in Cowbridge
The farm has "ceased all public animal feeding activities" as health officials investigate the outbreakMore than 70 people who visited a farm in Wales have been infected by a parasite.
Public Health Wales announced that it has confirmed that 74 people have been infected with cryptosporidium — which is a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — after visiting a Cowbridge farm.
According to the CDC, the parasite can 'live in water, food, soil, or on surfaces that have been contaminated with infected poop.' Public Health Wales said that cryptosporidium is 'often associated with contact with animals, especially young farm animals such as calves and lambs.'
Public Health Wales also noted that 16 people have been hospitalized as a result of contracting the parasite.
Following the outbreak, the Cowbridge farm has 'voluntarily ceased all public animal feeding activities,' according to Public Health Wales. The agency said it is continuing an investigation into the outbreak and Cowbridge farm is 'cooperating with the investigation.'
The Cowbridge farm announced in a post on Facebook that it had closed down its animal feeding experiences "due to unforeseen circumstances,' according to the BBC. The farm also issued an apology to people who had booked an appointment and said they could obtain a full refund.
Mother Vic Dobbinson told BBC that her 8-year-old daughter, Alba, was one of the people who had been infected with the parasite. She said Alba experienced vomiting and diarrhea after feeding the lambs over the Easter holiday.
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"I appreciate that [visiting a farm] comes with risks, but if we had been told there were cases potentially linked to this farm then we would've decided not to go," she told the outlet.
Su Mably, a Public Health Wales consultant in health protection, said in a statement: 'We are continuing to work with our partners to investigate this outbreak. Although cryptosporidium infection is usually mild and clears up on its own, it can cause more serious illness in young children and people with weakened immune systems.'
'It is possible for this infection to be passed on from one person to another, for example if someone is caring for a family member who is unwell,' Mably added.
Maby noted that it's important for people to take precautions including washing their hands well 'particularly before preparing food,' and said that people who visited the farm should contact their local doctor if they are feeling unwell.
Public health officials began investigating the cryptosporidium outbreak around April 30, according to the BBC. Initially, only 27 cases were reported, but the figure grew to 47 later that week.
Public Health Wales said infections are spiking due to cryptosporidium's incubation period. People who are infected with the parasite can present with symptoms 'two to 10 days after contact with the parasite,' and this can 'last for up to two weeks.'
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