Nursery World - Schools told to cancel farm trips to limit disease

Nurseries and schools have been advised to cancel any planned visits to farms until the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease has ended. The warning was given by the National Association of Farms for Schools (NAFS) following last week's outbreak of the highly contagious disease on farms in England. However, it stressed that while the foot and mouth virus is not harmful to children or adults, it can be transmitted easily by humans.

The warning was given by the National Association of Farms for Schools (NAFS) following last week's outbreak of the highly contagious disease on farms in England. However, it stressed that while the foot and mouth virus is not harmful to children or adults, it can be transmitted easily by humans.

An NAFS spokeswoman said, 'A lot of farms have now shut and a ban on livestock moving has just been announced, so it is highly unlikely that farms will accept school and nursery visits. It is foolish for people to go on farms at the moment because anybody moving around in the countryside has the potential to move the disease.

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