BANK Holiday visits to the countryside can lead to illness, according to Bury health bosses.

Now Bury's environmental services department has joined with Bury and Rochdale Health Authority to issue some simple guidelines to ensure that a happy holiday farm visit does not carry an unpleasant aftershock.

The move follows several cases of illness which have followed visits to farms in recent months.

Councillor Mike Connolly, Bury Council's public protection spokesman, said: "Farm animals are known to carry micro-organisms which cause a range of infections such as cryptosporidiosis, campylobacter and E-Coli 0157.

"Because of this we are offering advice particularly to mums and dads in regard to their children. By following a few simple rules and common sense procedures we believe a lot of problems can be prevented." The guidelines are:

Do not kiss animals.

Wash hands thoroughly before eating.

Only eat food away from animal areas.

Do not eat food which has fallen on the ground.

Avoid putting fingers or other objects such as pens and pencils in mouths.

Do not taste animal foods.

Clean or change footwear before leaving and wash hands afterwards.

Dr Leroy Benons, the health authority's consultant in communicable disease control, said: "We would advise people that good personal hygiene, especially handwashing, can play a major part in preventing the acquisition and spread of some of these infectious diseases."

More information, advice and leaflets are available either from the health authority by telephoning 0161 762 3109 or Bury Council's food safety officers on 0161 253 5566.

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