Biosecurity practices for animal health: guidance

The role of visitors in biosecurity

Visitors to farms and animal attractions play an important part in helping farmers maintain biosecurity. Simple precautions include:

• leaving gates as you find them
• interacting safely with animals
• taking all litter home with you, including waste food and dog faeces

Biosecurity also helps prevent the spread of zoonoses — diseases that can pass between animals and humans. Zoonoses that may pose a risk to humans include:

• cryptosporidium
• E. coli O157
• leptospirosis
• Lyme disease
• salmonella
• toxoplasmosis

These infections can be especially serious for vulnerable groups, including young children, pregnant women, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. 

How zoonoses spread

Zoonoses can spread through:

• direct contact with animals
• contaminated food or water
• contact with environments contaminated with animal faeces or saliva
• pests such as ticks

Good hygiene practice will significantly reduce the risk of contracting or spreading zoonoses. Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to protect yourself, as wipes and alcohol gels aren’t as effective against the types of germs you may be exposed to.

Visiting a farm or animal attraction

Farms and animal attractions can be fun and educational, especially for children. But animals and their environment can carry infections. To reduce your risk, wash your hands with liquid soap and warm running water straight away after touching animals or areas where they have been, and again at the end of your visit.

Read the advice for visiting a farm or animal attraction.

Pregnant women

If you are pregnant, read the advice on close contact with livestock.

Staying safe outdoors

NHS Inform has guidance on avoiding bugs and germs outdoors.

School and group visits

If you organise visits for children, read the guidance for teachers and group organisers.

You can also find more information on the Going out there and Royal Highland Education Trust websites.

Advice for operators

As an operator, you are responsible for the health and safety of visitors to your premises.

Putting effective control measures in place will help keep the risk of infection from animal contact low.

Read the industry Code of Practice for controlling ill health at visitor attractions. It sets out practical steps you should take at your premises to help you follow the law and keep visitors safe. You can also find more information on the National Farm Attractions (NFAN) and Access to Farms websites.

Read the guidance on preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact at farms and other animal attractions.

Advice for regulators

Read the biosecurity guidance for regulators and public body staff.

You can also read the guidance on preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact at animal visitor attractions.

Find out about the roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in investigating and managing zoonotic disease in Scotland.