Stay Clean, Stay Safe

Updated 2nd March 2026

Most farmers are aware that sheep and lambs can carry organisms capable of causing illness and disease in humans. The risk to pregnant women from aborting ewes at lambing time is widely recognised, but sheep can also harbour infections that may affect anyone working with them. It is therefore important to remain aware of these risks, even during routine tasks.

Potential infections fall into several categories which can also overlap:

• Those particularly harmful in pregnancy such as Chlamydia (Enzootic Abortion of Ewes or EAE), Toxoplasma, Listeria and Coxiella (Q fever).
• Those which can cause gastrointestinal illness include Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli and Cryptosporidium. As well as unpleasant digestive upsets, these may lead to more serious disease.
• Those affecting the skin such as parapox virus (orf) or fungal infections (ringworm).

Pregnant women must not enter lambing sheds and should avoid contact with clothing or equipment that may have been exposed to lambing ewes. Many infections are invisible to the naked eye and can enter the body through the mouth or broken skin after contact with contaminated animals. Children, people with underlying health conditions, and those on immunosuppressive medication are at greater risk of developing infections or serious illness.

Observing good hygiene significantly reduces these risks:

• Wear gloves for all lambing interventions to protect both human and sheep.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animals.
• Use hand sanitiser if handwashing facilities are unavailable.
• Wash hands thoroughly before eating or handling food.
• Keep your hands well moisturised to prevent chapping and cracks in the skin, particularly during lambing time and in cold weather.
• Take extra precautions when handling sick animals, use gloves while handling and dispose of any contaminated bedding carefully, and ensure vulnerable people are not involved with their care.
• If you become unwell, ensure you inform your doctor about your contact with livestock.

Eilidh Corr, Eilidh.Corr@sruc.ac.uk