On 12 September 2009 the Health Protection Agency (the Agency) announced that Godstone Farm in Surrey had been closed to visitors whilst an investigation was carried out into an outbreak of E.coli O157 among people who had visited the farm in August. Godstone Farm is an open1 or 'petting' farm.
The Agency was working with local environmental health officers, the Veterinary Laboratory Agency and Godstone Farm in response to 36 cases of gastrointestinal illness involving members of the public: 12 of whom were children who had been hospitalised with complications arising from the infection. E.coli O157 causes diarrhoea and can lead to kidney failure, especially in young children.
On the 30 September the Agency's Board agreed the terms of reference for an independent investigation into the outbreak to be led by George Griffin, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Medicine at St. George's, University of London and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens.
As of the 16 October the Agency reported that a total of 93 cases had been linked to Godstone Farm and that two children remained in hospital in a stable condition. The scale of this outbreak is unprecedented but as yet, the precise route of transmission remains unknown.
In the interim, the Agency reported a number of unrelated, sporadic cases of infection with E.coli O157 at other open farms in Devon, North Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire resulting in the voluntary closure of part or all of the visitor farm attractions. Further information on E.coli O157 and the outbreaks can be found on the Agency's website at: HPA - Health Protection Agency Homepage - Protecting people, Preventing harm, Preparing for threats
Following these reported outbreaks, and notwithstanding that the cause at Godstone Farm was (and remains) unknown, the Agency adopted a precautionary approach. It recommended to the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LG Regulation) that all local authorities in Great Britain (GB) were advised to inspect those open/petting farms where they have enforcement responsibility under health and safety legislation2 for compliance with current HSE guidance (AIS 23 (rev)). The Agency considered this important both to protect public health and to ensure public confidence. LG Regulation (formerly LACORS) communicated the recommendation to all councils in Great Britain (GB).
HSE agreed to extend this programme to include visits to those farms within its enforcement jurisdiction3 to which, as a minor or secondary activity, members of the public are invited and which facilitate direct contact with the animals.
The LAs and HSE will take steps to identify those premises which fall to their respective jurisdictions and will arrange for them to be visited.
Following the visits LG Regulation (formerly LACORS) has asked councils to feedback information on any key business compliance issues that emerged, views on the adequacy of the HSE's guidance (AIS 23), any feedback on visitor behaviour and whether the advice given (in particular about hand washing) is followed and whether businesses attempt to monitor and encourage recommended behaviours.
Similar information will be collated by HSE in relation to visits by its staff.
The aims of the visits are to:
The objectives are:
Current guidance is set out in HSE Agriculture Information Sheet No. 23 "Avoiding ill health at open farms - Advice to farmers (with teachers' supplement)" which can be downloaded from the HSE web site at AIS 23 (rev), and is also available in Welsh AIS 23.
AIS23 explains the law, and gives advice on assessing the risk arising from E.coli O157 as well as the simple steps farmers can take. These include deciding where visitors should be able to pet animals; ensuring visitors must pass by washing facilities to reach eating areas; adequate washing facilities with running water, liquid soap and disposal paper or roller towels are available in the right places; that enough time is allowed during the visit to ensure all visitors, especially children, wash their hands; and that information and signs reminding visitors to follow good hygiene practices are in place.
Further guidance on the programme of visits will be issued jointly by HSE and LG Regulation (formerly LACORS). It will provide advice and guidance to front line staff on the application of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998, the application of AIS23 and enforcement.
