Health authorities in England and Wales have warned people that they are at risk of contracting harmful infections from animals.
Public Health Wales said it is important that people do not hug, cuddle, kiss or otherwise handle sheep while out and about on farms or pet-friendly areas over Easter.
In 2025, around 80 cases of Cryptosporidium were recorded on a farm in South Wales. Cryptosporidiosis is an infection often associated with contact with farm animals. The parasite can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps, which can be serious in children and vulnerable people. Symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after contact with the parasite and can last for up to two weeks.
Preventive measures include washing hands thoroughly with warm running water and liquid soap after touching animals, enclosures or surfaces. Hand gels and wipes are not effective substitutes.
seasonal increase
Farms with public access during sheep farming season should try to reduce the risk of infection by providing handwashing stations with hot and cold water, soap and paper towels, keeping sheep in closed pens and allowing them to feed only outside the pen.
A similar warning has been issued by Worcestershire County Council, with adults asked to supervise children to ensure they wash their hands properly.
Every spring, there is a sharp increase in reported cases of Cryptosporidium, a disease spread by animals, with cattle, sheep and goats being the main vectors.
There were 4,149 Cryptosporidium infections in the UK in 2025, according to data from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA). In 2024, 24 outbreaks were linked to sheep breeding events or open breeding farms.
Professor Lisa McNally, Worcestershire’s director of public health, said: It is important to remember that farm environments can contain germs that can be harmful to people’s health.
“Bugs like Cryptosporidium, E. coli and Salmonella are commonly found on animals and surfaces around them, even if they appear clean on the outside, and can be easily caught through simple hand-to-mouth contact,” she said.
“The calving season poses additional risk because Cryptosporidium can be transmitted very easily from young animals. The best protection is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water as soon as you finish handling the animal and always before eating.”
easter chocolate warning
Meanwhile, Staffordshire County Council has asked people to remain vigilant when purchasing food, especially confectionery, which may contain banned or unauthorized ingredients this Easter.
The council’s Trading Standards Service officer urged shoppers to exercise caution when buying from informal sellers, including social media platforms, pop-up shops, marketplaces and unverified online retailers.
The Commission has seen an increase in potentially unsafe foods due to non-compliant labeling, missing allergen information or containing unapproved ingredients. Problems range from missing traceability details or address information to counterfeit and misleading branding of well-known products.
Anthony Screen, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety and resilience, said: “These foods may seem harmless, but many bypass essential checks that protect consumers. Products containing unauthorized ingredients or undeclared allergens can be very dangerous, especially for children or people with food allergies. If a food does not have a clear English label with a list of ingredients and allergen information, our advice is simple: don’t buy and don’t eat.”
