A farm where families can feed and cuddle animals has closed to visitors after people reported sickness and diarrhoea upon leaving the attraction.
Gannow Farm in Worcestershire said on Wednesday it had “decided to close for the remainder of the 2024 Farm Experience”, which was scheduled to run until 21 April.
The decision was taken after “several people” reported feeling unwell after visiting the farm.
In a statement from the farm on Tuesday, a spokesperson said Environmental Health officers had diagnosed the sickness outbreak as cryptosporidium, a parasite with the most common symptoms being watery diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pains and fever, according to the NHS.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advises that you can catch the bug from the faeces of an infected animal, for example by touching a lamb and then putting your hand to your mouth without washing it first.
An emailed request by Sky News for comment about the closure received an automatic response saying “Gannow Farm 2024 Experience is now closed and all future bookings will be refunded as soon as possible”.
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In a statement on Facebook, a spokesperson for the farm wrote: “This is a decision taken by the team and not by governing bodies however we are working closely with them as always.
“We would like to wish anyone that is poorly a speedy recovery.”
It appeared that people who commented on the post were not deterred from visiting in the future, however. “Your hand washing facilities were better than I’ve seen on most farms and I guess it comes with the type of work you do, can’t be avoided but can only try to prevent it,” one person wrote. “Rest assured it will not stop us coming year after year.”
One visitor said two members of their family were ill, but added: “I absolutely loved our experience and would defo consider visiting again as this could happen anywhere.”
To avoid catching cryptosporidium the UKHSA advises: “You should pay special attention to hygiene during farm visits, washing hands after any contact with animals, and eating only in designated areas.”
A spokesperson for UKHSA said: “Specialists from the UKHSA West Midlands are working with Worcestershire County Council following reports of a number of visitors becoming unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting after visiting Gannow Farm, Worcestershire.
“Samples have been taken and sent off for analysis, we are unable to confirm the cause of illness until we receive the results back from the laboratory.”
