cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium can cause severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea and is spread through direct contact with animals or touching surfaces that have animal faeces on them.

A year earlier the farm had been issued with a prohibition notice by the Health and Safety Executive because it was failing to prevent or control the risk of exposure to cryptosporidium.

But inspection reports released to the BBC under the Freedom Information Act by the UK's national cryptosporidium reference unit show that a small number of farms are not meeting health and safety standards - and, in extreme cases, are ignoring warnings from inspectors.

Some of these parasites like the microscopic cryptosporidium — usually transmitted through water or food that has been contaminated with feces, including raw milk — have become more common over the past decade, according to the review.

Seven new cases of cryptosporidium have been confirmed since last week, all linked to visits to Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, during March and April.