Zoo Owner Fined £20,000 After Parasite Outbreak Infects 264 People

A zoo that allows animal interaction is facing criticism and has been mandated to pay £20,000 following the infection of hundreds of guests ...

A zoo that allows animal interaction is facing criticism and has been mandated to pay £20,000 following the infection of hundreds of guests with a harmful parasite.

A total of 264 individuals, with many being children, contracted the Cryptosporidium parasite, which may cause serious gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Sharon Wheeler, the proprietor of Hazelgrove Farm, admitted guilt at the Southampton magistrates' court for a safety violation following an incident where children were seen kissing goats that appeared to be covered in feces.

Approximately five percent of the infected individuals were admitted to the hospital during the night as parents worried excessively about their children's severe condition.

Parents also became infected with the parasite, leading to 1,254 workdays lost due to sickness or caregiving duties.

A collaborative inquiry conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) along with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified the source of the infections as the farm located on the Isle of Wight.

It discovered that 60-year-old Wheeler organized an animal bottle-feeding event at the farm, with over 30 percent of participants becoming infected.

A total of 2,400 tickets were sold from April 4 to May 1, 2023, allowing guests to buy a bottle to nourish a lamb or young goat.

Other issues identified during the inquiry are 'insufficient washing and drying equipment' as guests utilized reusable towels.

There was insufficient guidance and data provided to both guests and staff.

The investigation also identified 'insufficient control and monitoring of visitors' interactions with animals'.

Some attendees continue to experience digestive problems following the event, while others have required repeated hospitalizations.

Wheeler, based in Ryde, admitted guilt for the violation under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £8,000.

She was also required to pay £9,528.35 along with an additional fee of £3,200.

As she delivered her verdict, District Judge Rachel Galloway discussed the mental impact and PTSD that the victims have experienced.

She considered the parasite's life-threatening nature and the parents' fear that their child might not recover.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Francesca Arnold addressed the significance of farm dangers, emphasizing that farmers must be aware of on-site risks and ensure the safety of all visitors.

The dangers associated with interacting with animals require focus and should be managed.

If appropriate measures had been taken to manage the zoonotic risks, this situation might have been prevented. However, the shortcomings during the animal feeding event led to many visitors falling ill, with some experiencing long-term consequences.

"Like most activities, trips to farms and agricultural sites cannot be seen as entirely risk-free," Ms. Arnold added.

Ms. Arnold points out that implementing control measures and safe procedures can lower risk factors for both the public and employees, while ensuring they still have a meaningful and pleasant recreational and learning opportunity.

Read more

• What connects petting farms with the UK's biggest cryptosporidium outbreak, and what steps can you take to protect yourself while visiting?
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• Entertaining farm experiences gone wrong: How animal interaction zones led to several fatal E. coli and cryptosporidium incidents!
• Why are petting zoos turning into sources of dangerous, life-threatening illnesses?
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