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Prevention and control of zoonoses on farms open to the public
Author(s) -
Pritchard Geoff
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.d3597
Subject(s) - livestock , business , tourism , agriculture , falling (accident) , foot and mouth disease , public health , economic growth , veterinary medicine , environmental health , geography , medicine , economics , outbreak , nursing , archaeology , virology , forestry
Faced with falling profit margins from conventional livestock production, farmers have sought to diversify into new ventures to increase farm income. Despite a setback during the 2001 foot‐and‐mouth disease epidemic, farm attractions have been an important growth area in recent years and help to bridge the gap between urban living and the agricultural industry. Livestock farms that open to the public are now a well established part of the tourism industry in Britain and serve useful leisure, entertainment and educational roles. Close contact with animals or their environment may occasionally result in injury or zoonotic illness in humans. This article discusses the major zoonoses associated with farm livestock and highlights the role of veterinary surgeons in preventing and controlling disease on public farms.