Guidance

Avoiding infection on farm visits: advice for the public

Updated 5 March 2026

Farm visits and risks

Visiting a farm is an enjoyable and educational experience for many people, particularly children. However, visiting a farm carries a small risk of catching an infection from animals or the environment. Farm animals can be a source of germs (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness. Some can cause serious illness in children, pregnant women and those with reduced immunity.

These germs may not cause animals to look ill, so it is difficult to tell whether an animal is infected, especially when they look clean and healthy.

Infections can be picked up from an animal’s body, its poo, or from areas where animals have recently been. If you get the germs on your hands, you could accidentally pass them to your mouth. You can’t see the germs, so your hands may look clean.

Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and running water immediately after you have had contact with animals will reduce the risk of infection. Hand gels or wipes are not a substitute for washing your hands with soap and running water, as they don’t kill all germs that are found in dirt.

What to do when visiting a farm

Following the simple rules listed below will help to keep adults and children safe from infections that may be found on farms. Pregnant women need to take particular care as infections acquired from animals can be harmful to them and their unborn baby.

Things you should do when visiting a farm:

• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you have touched animals, fences or other surfaces in animal areas
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or drinking
• supervise children closely to ensure that they wash their hands thoroughly
• only eat and drink in picnic areas or cafes
• remove and clean your boots or shoes if they have become dirty or muddy, and clean your pushchair wheels - make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards
• follow instructions and signage provided on farm sites

Things you should not do when visiting a farm:

• do not touch your face or put your fingers in your mouth while petting animals or walking around the farm
• do not kiss farm animals or allow children to put their faces close to animals
• do not eat or drink while touching animals or walking around the farm - this includes not eating sweets, crisps or chewing gum
• do not eat anything that has fallen on the floor
• do not use gels or wipes instead of washing hands with soap and water - gels and wipes do not remove all germs found in dirt
• do not drink raw milk or eat raw milk products (such as cream) sold on the farm if you are pregnant, elderly or have a weakened immune system
• do not give raw milk products to young children

If you are planning a school or group visit to a farm, you also need to make sure that you have considered all the risks and taken steps to manage them. Guidance is available to help schools and teachers do this within the Teachers Code of Practice from Access To Farms.

What to do if you or your child feel unwell after visiting a farm

Contact your GP or call NHS 111 as soon as possible if you or a member of your family have symptoms such as being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea within 2 weeks of visiting a farm and tell them you have recently been to a farm. Seek immediate emergency medical attention if you or anyone in your family, particularly a young child, has bloody diarrhoea.

Anyone who has been sick or had diarrhoea within 2 weeks of visiting a farm should not attend work, school or nursery until they have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours, as they could pass the illness on to others. However, with infections from some specific germs, your GP may recommend extra tests before starting back at work, school or nursery, to ensure the person has fully recovered and will not pass on the infection to others.

People who handle food at work, children under 5 years and those who work closely with people who may be vulnerable to infections may need to discuss this with their GP or local health protection team before returning to work, school or nursery.

Further information

For further information on zoonoses (infections that spread from animals to humans) see: Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses): guidance, data and analysis

For further information on Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), including O157 see: STEC: symptoms, how to avoid, how to treat

For further information on cryptosporidiosis see: Cryptosporidiosis: guidance, data and analysis

Information for teachers on taking children on farm visits is available in the Access to Farms Code of Practice: Teacher’s Guide

Information for pregnant women is available on the NHS website:

• Pregnancy: advice on contact with animals that are giving birth - GOV.UK
• Infections in pregnancy that may affect your baby - NHS

Information for farmers can be found in the code of practice for controlling ill health from animal contact at visitor attractions

Advice for farmers to reduce the health risks from Q-fever is available at: Q fever: information for farmers - GOV.UK

Further information and tools to support farmers can be found at the Access to Farms website.

Further information on risks from raw drinking milk can be found at Food Standard Agency website: Raw drinking milk