CDC Investigation Notice: Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Backyard Poultry

A CDC investigation announcement of multiple multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to contact with poultry in backyard flocks has been posted https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/backyardpoultry-05-19/index.html.

Updates:

• Since the last update on May 16, 2019, an additional 227 ill people have been added to this investigation.
• There have been 279 ill people reported from 41 states.
• 40 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
• About one-third of the ill people are children younger than 5 years.
• The people who got sick reported getting chicks and ducklings from places such as agricultural stores, websites, and hatcheries.
• People can get sick from Salmonella from touching poultry or their environment. Birds carrying the bacteria can appear healthy and clean.

Advice to consumers:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching poultry or anything in their environment. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not immediately available.
• Do not let backyard poultry inside the house, including in bathrooms. Be especially careful to keep them out of areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens and outdoor patios.
• Set aside a pair of shoes to wear while taking care of your birds and keep those outside of your home.
• Children younger than 5, adults over 65, and people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body’s ability to fight germs and sickness shouldn’t handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other poultry.
• Don’t eat or drink where poultry live or roam.
• Don’t kiss backyard poultry, or snuggle them and then touch your face or mouth.
• Stay outdoors when cleaning any equipment or materials used to raise or care for poultry, such as cages, or feed or water containers.

About Salmonella:

• Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 12-72 hours after eating contaminated food.
• The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
• More information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/farm-animals/backyard-poultry.html.

If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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