Manx health officials have issued a hygiene warning after several people tested positive for illnesses normally associated with handling livestock.
About five cases of Cryptosporidium and Campylobacter have been reported on the island during the past three months.
It is thought some of those affected may have been involved in helping farmers to rescue livestock after heavy snow last month.
Food Safety Manager Ivan Bratty said simple precautions must be taken.
“These recent cases serve as a timely reminder of the importance of thorough hand washing after handling livestock and before preparing or handling food to prevent infection and the spread of disease in the community,” he said.
“It is also important for anyone suffering from diarrhoea to avoid swimming pools as Cryptosporidium can survive in chlorinated water”.
Cryptosporidium is a disease that is very common in young farm animals and can easily be passed to people who come into contact with those animals- it can lead to sickness and diarrhoea, but is rarely a serious condition for healthy people.
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