Rise in number taken ill after visiting Welsh farm

THERE has been a further increase in the number of people who fell ill with a parasitic infection after feeding animals at a farm. Public Health Wales (PHW) have now confirmed that its on-going investigation into a cryptosporidium outbreak at Cowbridge Farm Shop has seen 81 people who have fallen ill.

- HOLLY MORGAN

Gareth Carpenter, 46, said his son suddenly fell ill days after visiting Cowbridge Farm Shop with his

grandmother on April 11. Tests later revealed he had been infected with a parasite called cryptosporidium, which lives in the intestines of infected animals and humans.

A spokesperson for Public Health Wales said yesterday: “We want to remind those visiting open farms to follow good hygiene practices. Seven new cases of cryptosporidium have been identified in association with visits to a Cowbridge farm in March and April 2025.

“The fourth meeting of the multi-agency outbreak control team was held today to respond to an outbreak of cryptosporidium linked to visits to Cowbridge Farm Shop, Marlborough Grange Farm, Cross Ways, Cowbridge.