My family & I are in close, constant contact with sheep, especially during lambing season. Are there any known illness’s or disease’s that we are at risk of catching? We’ve been in the sheep biz for over 30 years & my family members & I seem to have had a somewhat out of the ordinary combined medical history (my brother died at 20yo from brain tumor, sis has Adisons disease, I have Uveitis, Mom’s had ongoing kidney issues, etc etc.) I’d just like to learn whether sheep are linked with causing any human health problems, & what they are. For example: I’ve heard that pregnant woman are supposed to avoid contact with sheep. Why & what exactly happens if they are exposed? ….during lambing season we frequently have to "enter" the sheep to pull difficult lambs. We have constant direct contact with blood, after-birth, diseased/sick sheep, dead sheep/lambs, & the asst. meds/vacines we must administer……… so ANY help, answers, advice on the subject would be really appreciated.

I got 3 solicitations just today, Nat’l Found. for Cancer Research, Nat’l Breast Cancer Research Center and the Nat’l Cancer Research Center. I also get them from local agencies on a regular basis.