Newsroom
Pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season, the Government advised today.
The Department of Health, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Health and Safety Executive advised that pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may risk their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections that can occur in some ewes.
Although the number of reports of these infections and human miscarriages resulting from contact with sheep is extremely small, pregnant women should be aware of the risks and ready to take appropriate precautions.
To avoid the possible risk of infection, pregnant women are advised that they should:
- not help to lamb or milk ewes;
- avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs or with the afterbirth, birthing fluids or materials (e.g. bedding) contaminated by such birth products;
- avoid handling clothing, boots etc which have come into contact with ewes or lambs
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.
