SIR: I found out about toxoplasmosis nine years ago, when I did a Watchdog programme about the infection. My son was then a young child, and I identified with those women who - like me - had known nothing about toxoplasmosis when they were pregnant; and shared the anger of those who learned about it because their child was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis.

Sadly, many pregnant women have still never heard of toxoplasmosis, yet it's far more common in pregnancy than German measles, listeria or salmonella. It's a disease which infects around 640 babies every year while they are still in their mothers' wombs - and it can be deadly. Over 60 of the babies will be miscarried, stillborn or born with brain or eye damage, and most of the rest will go on to develop recurring eye problems.

That's why I've joined the Daisy Chain Campaign - to link doctors, midwives, nurses, pregnant women, grandmothers, mothers and daughters, raising awareness and passing on information. Our campaign aims to ensure that within five years all pregnant women know of toxoplasmosis. It is vital that expectant mothers - and all who care for them - do know about toxoplasmosis, because the good news is that it is preventable, and treatable. Those 640 annual tragedies are avoidable.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caught by swallowing something infected. It is usually unnoticed in children and adults, although it can cause flu-like illness. You get it from eating raw or undercooked meat, unwashed, uncooked vegetables or fruit, or from accidentally swallowing soil or infected cat mess, (but most cats are not infectious). You can also get toxoplasmosis from unpasteurised goat's milk and products, and from sheep at lambing time.

To avoid toxoplasmosis, eat only meat which has been thoroughly cooked; wash hands, utensils and surfaces after preparing raw meat; wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly; avoid unpasteurised goat's milk and products; wear gloves when gardening and wash hands afterwards; take care handling dirty cat litter - clear out faeces daily wearing rubber gloves and wash gloves and hands thoroughly afterwards.

If a pregnant woman is unlucky enough to be infected with toxoplasmosis, a blood test can detect it and antibiotics given to reduce the risk to the baby. All this is simple information, but if we are to get the message across quickly and effectively we need thousands to join our Daisy Chain. That's why I'm appealing to your readers to join me and help save our babies by becoming vital links in the chain.

You can start by getting a leaflet from the Toxoplasmosis Trust -just send a large stamped addressed envelope to The Toxoplasmosis Trust, 61 Collier Street, London Nl 9BE. The leaflet is free but TTT is a charity that needs money for its vital work, so donations are welcome. If you have a specific worry about toxoplasmosis, you can call the helpline on 0171 713 0599 between 9.30am and 5.30pm Monday-Friday.

Please don't delay - act today. Your action may save a baby's life.

?Lynn Faulds Wood

Former Presenter, BBC Watchdog

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