9th April 2023

Now that Easter holidays have begun the PHA is reminding parents about hand washing.

Farm animals can be the source of several bugs that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness. Some can be particularly serious for children or pregnant women.

These bugs may not cause animals to be visibly ill so it’s difficult to tell whether an animal is infected. Infection can be picked up from the animal’s body, its poo or from areas where animals have recently been. If the bugs are on your hands, you could accidentally pass them to your mouth.

Wash hands thoroughly using soap and water after handling animals or touching surfaces and hands should always be washed before eating or drinking and after using the toilet.

Antibacterial hand gels and wipes are not a substitute for washing hands, as gels and wipes may not adequately remove germs and bugs in the way that running water can. However, using such gels after hand washing with soap and water may reduce the risk of picking up these infections.

#washyourhands