This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Pregnant women and lambing
27/12/2004
Pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep
during the lambing season, Chief Medical Officer Mac
Armstrong advised today.
In particular they should:
- not help to lamb or milk ewes
- avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs or
with the afterbirth
- wherever possible avoid handling clothing, boots
etc which have come into contact with ewes or lambs, or
if they must, wear rubber gloves
Outlining the risks, Dr Armstrong said:
"Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep
during lambing may be risking their health and the health
of their unborn child.
"This is because infections such as chlamydiosis
(enzootic abortion of ewes - EAE), toxoplasmosis and
listeriosis - all common causes of abortion in ewes - can
be passed on to them.
"While the number of reported infections and human
miscarriages resulting from contact with sheep is extremely
small, pregnant women need to be aware of the potential
risks.
"If they do become ill - experience fever or
influenza-like symptoms, and are concerned that they could
have acquired infection from a farm environment, they
should seek immediate medical advice."
Farmers have a responsibility to minimise the risks to
pregnant women, including members of their family, the
public and professional staff visiting farms.
Any action should be determined by their risk assessment
required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and the Management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
If a ewe aborts, farmers are advised to ask their
veterinary surgeon to take a sample to their local
Veterinary Investigation Centre to determine the
cause.
In the interests of hygiene, farmers should dispose of
all afterbirths promptly and safely via an approved route
such as rendering or incineration.