FIVE visitors to Countryfile presenter Adam Henson's farm in the Cotswolds and one member of staff are being treated for the intestinal infection cryptosporidium.

Public Health England (PHE) is working closely with the Health and Safety Executive, Cotswold District Council, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and Cotswold Farm Park to investigate the outbreak at Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, near Bourton-on-the-Water.

Everyone affected is recovering well at home and the farm park has put in extra measures to reduce the risk of infection to visitors over the coming bank holiday Monday.

As part of the investigation, HSE and Environmental Health have visited the park and as a precaution, they have given advice around a number of measures, including extra cleaning and additional hand washing facilities.

Dr David Hunt, consultant for health protection in PHE Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire said: "Most of the cases became unwell in April and appear to have visited the park in the Easter holidays. "The park has co-operated fully with the investigation and has put in place a number of extra measures ahead of the upcoming bank holiday to reduce the risk to future visitors.

"The AHVLA also intend to visit the park to provide advice and support around animal husbandry. Public Health England will continue to follow up the cases to try and identify any common activities which could help inform practice at the park.

"Cryptosporidium is found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with infected human or animal faeces. Careful hand washing is required to reduce the risk of exposure on a farm visit.

"Symptoms include: watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, dehydration, weight loss and fever. Anyone can get cryptosporidiosis, but it is most common in young children aged between 1 and 5 years and most healthy people will recover fully. "As there is no specific treatment, it is important for people affected to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration."

Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis include watery diarrhoea, stomach pains, dehydration, weight loss and fever which could last for up to three weeks but people with weak immune systems can be affected for longer periods.

There is no specific treatment for cryptosporidiosis. Most people with a healthy immune system will recover within one month.