The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7334 p103
29 January 2005

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Lambing season warning

Pregnant women should be advised to avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season. And those who have had contact with sheep who go on to develop a fever or influenza-like symptoms should be referred to a doctor immediately.

The reason for the advice, which has been issued by all three UK government health departments, is that a number of infections, such as chlamydiosis, toxoplasmosis and listeriosis can be passed from sheep to humans. These infections are common causes of abortion in ewes and can cause infections and miscarriage in pregnant women.

Mac Armstrong, chief medical officer in Scotland, commented: “While the number of reported infections and human miscarriages resulting from contact with sheep is extremely small, pregnant women need to be aware of the potential risks.”

Pregnant women should:

· Not help to lamb or milk ewes
· Avoid contact with aborted lambs, new-born lambs and the afterbirth
· Avoid handling clothing and boots that have come into contact with ewes or lambs. If this is unavoidable, rubber gloves should be worn