The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued advice to pregnant women who might come into contact with ewes during the lambing season.

Farmers have a responsibility to minimise the risks to pregnant women who might come into contact with livestock, including consulting veterinary doctors to make sure flocks are fully vaccinated, along with other disease control measures.

Some ewes can develop infections and pregnant women who come into contact with pregnant ewes may not only risk their own health – but that of their unborn child.

Pregnant women are advised not to touch or help milk ewes – and not to help deliver lambs.

They should also avoid touching or helping to feed newborn lambs or having contact with any afterbirth materials or fluids.

Any outdoor clothing, including footwear, that has been in contact with lambing must also be avoided – including washing it on behalf of someone else.

Defra experts say that pregnant women who come into contact with pregnant ewes or newborn lambs and go on to develop a fever or flu-like symptoms should contact their GP immediately. If pregnant women have been near farms or farmland and develop similar symptoms, they should also seek medical advice.

The Department of Health has issued a leaflet called ‘While you are pregnant: How to avoid infection from food and from contact with animals’, which is issued to GPs and midwives. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also has an information line that can help with enquiries about contact with animals for pregnant women. The telephone number is 0845 3450055.  HSE advisers may connect callers to a local Occupational Health Adviser in their region, if necessary.

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