Wales: More than 160 mountain bikers made sick by sheep droppings
More than 160 mountain
bikers were struck down by sickness after mud on a dirt track was
contaminated with sheep droppings.
Source of
Article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3541919/More-than-160-mountain-bikers-made-sick-by-sheep-droppings.html
Last Updated: 7:55PM GMT 02 Dec
2008
Public health inspectors were
called in after the cyclists fell ill with food poisoning after an event in
the Welsh countryside.
The cyclists tested positive
for the bacterium campylobacter – usually caused by uncooked meat and
poultry.
But following an investigation
by health experts, the muddy mountain cycle course was found to be heavily
contaminated with sheep droppings.
The cyclists are believed to
have been affected by eating meals and snacks during the event – without
washing their hands first.
A report by the National Public
Health Service for Wales
said: "We were alerted after being told eight of the bikers had become
unwell after the event.
"At that point we launched
an internet based questionnaire to investigate the outbreak."
More than 660 mountain bikers
from all over Britain
took part in the Builth Wells Mountain Biking
Marathon in Powys in July this year.
A total of 355 responses were
received with 161 cyclists reporting symptoms such as diarrhoea
and vomiting.
Andrew Lloyd, 27, said: "A
lot of the lads were really ill – they are fit men but this hit them for six.
"It wasn't until everyone
got together until we realised how many had been
affected.
"But I don't know what you
can do about it - how do you stop sheep walking on footpaths on hills."
The report, by the NPHSW,
concluded the outbreak was caused by campylobacter spread to the cyclists by
mud which was contaminated with sheep faeces.
Heavy overnight rain is likely
to have contributed to the outbreak by increasing the amount of liquid mud on
the course.
The report recommended cyclists
to eat out of protective wrappers at future events.
It also called for organisers to re-route courses to avoid areas heavily
contaminated with droppings.
Dr Sian Griffiths of the NPHSW
said: "We hope that this report and the recommendations within it will
help reduce the risk of something like this happening again."
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