THE HEALTH Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has issued guidelines to protect children from picking up infections on open or pet farms over the Easter break.
Visitors to farms, said HPSC specialist in public health medicine Dr Paul McKeown, should observe farm notices, avoid consuming unpasteurised products, tasting animal feedstuffs and cover all cuts or broken skin with waterproof plasters.
They should avoid letting their faces come into contact with animals, eat only in designated eating areas and wash and dry hands after contact with animals or animal feed and before eating and drinking.