Advice to pregnant women during the lambing season

Pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season.

The advice has been issued 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).

Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep during lambing may risk their own health and that of their unborn child, from infections that can occur in some ewes. These include chlamydiosis (enzootic abortion of ewes, EAE), toxoplasmosis and listeriosis, which are common causes of abortion in ewes, and Q fever, which may occasionally cause ewes to abort but which can also be spread via the birth fluids of animals (not just sheep) that have no clinical signs of disease.

Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland said:” Although the number of reports of these infections and human miscarriages resulting from contact with sheep is extremely small, it is important that pregnant women are aware of the potential risks associated with close contact with sheep during lambing.”

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

• not help to lamb or milk ewes;
• avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs or with the afterbirth, birthing fluids or materials (e.g. bedding) contaminated by such birth products
• avoid handling clothing, boots etc which have come into contact with ewes or lambs.

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. Any action should be determined by their risk assessment required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and also the Management of Health and Safety of Work Regulations 1999.

If a ewe aborts, farmers are advised to consult their veterinary surgeon and submit a sample to their local Veterinary Sciences Division at either Omagh or Belfast to determine the cause. In the interests of hygiene, farmers should dispose of all afterbirths promptly and safely in accordance with relevant legislation.

Notes to Editors:

1. Farmers should consult their veterinary surgeon about suitable vaccination programmes and any other disease control measures in sheep.
2. Enzootic Abortion in Ewes (EAE) is caused by the organism Chlamydia psittaci. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the organism Toxoplasma gondii and Listeriosis by the organism Listeria monocytogenes. These organisms are some of the causes of abortion in sheep.
3. Q Fever is caused by the Coxiella burnetti bacterium, and is widespread globally among livestock and domestic ruminants. Sheep, cattle and goats are the most frequent source of human infection, although pets such as dogs and cats may also be a source.
4. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 requires employers to assess risks to health from harmful substances, including micro-organisms, and to take steps to prevent or control those risks. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (N.I) 2000 require employers to further assess any risks, which affect pregnant women.
5. Further information is also available in the 1997 publication “Infection risks to new and expectant mothers in the workplace - A guide for employers”, prepared by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive for Great Britain (ref: ISBN 0-7176-1360-7). Copies are available, price £10.50, from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, or by calling 01787 881165, or via their website.
6. The Health and Safety Executive has produced a booklet entitled “New and Expectant Mothers at Work-A Guide for Employers” which provides guidance on protecting the health and safety of workers who are new or expectant mothers (ref: ISBN 0 7176 2583 4). Copies are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury. Suffolk, CO10 2NA, or via their website at http://www. hsebooks.co. uk
7. The Advisory Committees on Dangerous Pathogens has produced guidance entitled “Infection at work: Controlling the risks- A guide for employers and the self employed on identifying , assessing and controlling the risks of infection in the workplace”. This can be accessed on the HSE website or by ringing the HSE helpline 08701 545500.
8. Further advice is available from the HSENI (Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland) on their One 2-One Helpline 0800 0320 121 or by email hseni@detini.gov.uk
9. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.