Advice to pregnant women during the lambing season

Advice has been issued to pregnant women to avoid coming into contact with sheep during the lambing season.
~ Thursday, 2 February 2012

Issued jointly by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), the advice says that women may risk their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections that can occur in some ewes.

Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, said: “Although reports of these infections are extremely rare, it is important that pregnant women are aware of the potential risks and take appropriate precautions. It is also important to note that these risks are not only confined to the spring (when the majority of lambs are born), nor are the risks only associated with sheep. Indeed, cows and goats that have recently given birth can also carry similar infections.”

To avoid the possible risk of infection, pregnant women are advised that they should:

• not help to lamb ewes, or to provide assistance with a cow that is calving or a nanny goat that is kidding;
• avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs, calves or kids or with the afterbirth, birthing fluids or materials (e.g. bedding) contaminated by such birth products;
• avoid handling (including washing) clothing, boots or any materials that may have come into contact with animals that have recently given birth, their young or afterbirths;
• ensure partners attending lambing ewes or other animals giving birth take appropriate health and hygiene precautions, including the wearing of personal protective equipment and adequate washing to remove any potential contamination.

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.

Notes to editors:

1. Farmers should consult their veterinary surgeon about suitable vaccination programmes and any other disease control measures in sheep, cattle and goats.

2 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 require employers and the self employed to assess risks to health from harmful substances, including micro-organisms, and to take steps to prevent or control those risks, and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (NI) 2000 require employers and the self employed to further assess any risks, which affect pregnant women.

3. Further information on zoonoses and appropriate control measures can be found in the HSE Agriculture Information Sheet 2 - Common Zoonoses in Agriculture which is available from the HSENI website http://www.HSE.gov.uk/pubns/ais2.pdf. Also the 1997 publication Infection risks to new and expectant mothers in the workplace- a guide for employers, developed by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ref: ISBN 0-7176-1360-7) is available as a free PDF on the HSE website

4. Further advice on the infection risks to pregnant women from cattle, sheep and goats that have given birth is available on the Defra website

5. Further advice is also available on the HPA website

6. Media enquiries about this press release to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.