Government review on 'petting farms' in wake of E.coli scare

The World of Country Life farm, in Exmouth, Devon, became the fourth farm attraction to be affected over the weekend. It closed its petting areas as a precautionary measure after it was linked with three individuals with confirmed E.coli O157 infection.

The Health Protection Agency, which is investigating into the links with East Devon District Council, stressed that, as yet, there is no confirmation that the farm is the source of infection.

The majority of E.coli outbreaks are caused either by food contamination or person to person spread and only about 1 in 50 of all cases are associated with outbreaks linked to petting farms, it said.

Meanwhile the number of cases of E.coli O157 linked to the original outbreak at Godstone Farm, in Surrey, continues to rise. The figure is now 64, with nine children remaining in hospital all of which are described today as 'stable and improving'. None are seriously ill.

Godstone's sister farm, Horton Park Children's Farm, in Epsom, is also closed after the HPA found hygiene arrangements there to be 'unsatisfactory'.

White Post Farm, in Nottinghamshire, closed voluntarily on Friday after concerns were raised that it may be a source of infection for two E.coli O157.

The closures have inevitably put the spotlight on farm attractions that allow petting of animals.

The Department of Health has announced that that its advisory committee on dangerous pathogens would be reviewing the current guidance on open farms.

It will advise on the need for additional precautions at such venues and will have to consider calls for young children to be banned from petting animals.

Microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington has urged parents to 'think hard' about allowing under-fives to touch animals at farm attractions.