Health officials are urging people not to handle lambs on farm visits this spring after an outbreak of a parasitic infection linked to farm animals last year left dozens sick. Michael, then aged four, was among more than 80 people who fell ill with cryptosporidiosis, a stomach infection caused by the cryptosporidium parasite, linked to a petting farm in April 2025. Michael held a lamb and fed it with a bottle during a visit to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan with his grandmother in April 2025.
Cryptosporidiosis can cause severe diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps and can be particularly serious for young children and vulnerable groups. Michael's father, Gareth, said his young son spent four days in hospital with a fever and severe diarrhoea. Figures for last year showed more than 525 cases of cryptosporidium were confirmed by Public Health Wales scientists - 35% of those involved children under 10.
We'd taken him before.
Following the outbreak, the farm shop voluntarily suspended its feeding and petting sessions and cooperated fully with the investigation, PHW said last year.
Michael had his hands washed and sanitised immediately after, he changed his clothes when we got home.
They admitted him to hospital where he developed a bad fever, really bad diarrhoea. He was on a drip, he needed constant fluids, constant painkillers.
It was the worst experience I've ever been through in my entire life.
We thought we'd lose him.
I'm not against farmers creating another income for themselves, I encourage it.
It's not really the farmers' fault but even if they're taking steps it's just not ever going to be enough to eliminate the possibility.
I would advise people not to do it at all if I'm being blunt, but I also accept most people would ignore me and have a lovely time.
We did more than most but still caught it.