Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Hadar Infections Linked to Live Poultry in Backyard Flocks (Final Update)

Posted October 12, 2012 10:15 AM ET

This outbreak appears to be over. However, Salmonella is an important cause of human illness in the United States. More information about Salmonella, and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection, can be found on the CDC Salmonella Web Page and the CDC Vital Signs Web Page.

Highlights
  • Read the Advice to Consumers »
  • A total of 46 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar were reported from 11 states.

    • The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: Alabama (4), Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), Delaware (1), Georgia (5), Illinois (4), Indiana (6), Kansas (1), Kentucky (11), Louisiana (1), Maryland (5), Maine (4), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (2), North Carolina (15), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (5), New York (23), Ohio (42), Pennsylvania (16), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (11), Texas (2), Virginia (9), Vermont (3), and West Virginia (11).
    • 13 ill persons were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
    • 30% of ill persons were children 10 years of age or younger.
  • Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with live poultry from Hatchery B in Idaho.

  • Mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores, and others that sell or display chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry should provide health-related information to owners and potential purchasers of these birds prior to the point of purchase. This should include information about the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection from contact with live poultry.
  • This particular outbreak appears to be over. However, Salmonella is an important cause of human illness in the United States. More information about Salmonella infections, and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection, can be found on the CDC Salmonella Web Page and the CDC Vital Signs Web Page.

Introduction

CDC collaborated with public health and agriculture officials in many states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Poultry Improvement Plan, and Veterinary Services to investigate an outbreak of human Salmonella Hadar infections linked to chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry from Hatchery B in Idaho. The mail-order hatchery was not named at the request of state authorities. Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify cases of illness that were part of this outbreak. In PulseNet, the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC, DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria are obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that were part of this outbreak.

A total of 46 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar were reported from 11 states: Arizona (2), California (2), Colorado (5), Idaho (6), Illinois (4), Oregon (6), Tennessee (2), Texas (1), Utah (6), Washington (10), and Wyoming (2).

Among 45 persons for whom information was available, illness onset dates ranged from March 6, 2012 to August 12, 2012. Ill persons ranged in age from less than 1 year to 78 years, with a median age of 33 years. Fifty percent of ill persons were female. Among 36 persons with available information, 13 (36%) reported being hospitalized, and no deaths were reported.

This particular outbreak appears to be over. However, Salmonella is an important cause of human illness in the United States. More information about Salmonella infections and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection can be found on the CDC Salmonella Web Page and the CDC Vital Signs Web Page.

It is important to remember that contact with live poultry, including baby or adult birds, can be a source of human Salmonella infections. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children. It is important for mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores, and others that sell or display chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry to provide health-related information Cdc-pdf[PDF – 1 page] to owners and potential purchasers of these birds prior to the point of purchase. This should include information about the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection from contact with live poultry. Additional recommendations are available.

Investigation of the Outbreak

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback investigations conducted by officials in local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry from Hatchery B in Idaho. The mail-order hatchery was not named at the request of state authorities.

In interviews, ill persons answered questions about contact with animals and foods consumed during the week before becoming ill. Twenty-eight (90%) of 31 ill persons interviewed reported contact with live poultry (e.g., chicks, ducklings, turkeys) before becoming ill. The median time from acquiring baby poultry and illness onset was 23 days, with a range of 4 to 70 days. Live poultry were purchased from agricultural feed stores or direct from the mail-order hatchery. Ill persons reported purchasing live poultry for backyard flocks to produce eggs or meat, or to keep as pets. Twenty-three (88%) of 26 ill persons with available purchase information reported purchasing live poultry from various locations of 19 different agricultural feed store companies in multiple states. Because the potential for Salmonella infection exists wherever these live poultry are sold, and not just at one feed store, CDC’s recommendations apply wherever these poultry are sold.

Findings of multiple traceback investigations of live poultry from homes of ill persons have identified Hatchery B in Idaho as the source of chicks and other live poultry. The owners of the mail-order hatchery are working closely with public health and agriculture officials to address the outbreak. Hatchery B is a participant in the USDA National Poultry Improvement Plan program. This program is intended to eliminate certain strains of Salmonella that cause illness in poultry breeding flocks and hatcheries, but does not certify that these poultry are free from other strains of Salmonella that may cause human illness.

Live poultry infected with Salmonella can appear healthy and clean, but still shed Salmonella germs that can make people sick. Because live poultry from Hatchery B may live in backyard flocks for long periods of time, it is important to be aware of the risk of Salmonella infection from these birds, as well as all live poultry, and to follow the Advice to Consumers.

October 12, 2012

Final Case Count Update

A total of 46 persons infected with outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar were reported from 11 states. Since the last update, nine new cases were reported from 7 states: California (1), Colorado (2), Idaho (1), Illinois (2), Oregon (1), Utah (1), and Washington (1).

Among 45 persons for whom information was available, illness onset dates ranged from March 6, 2012 to August 12, 2012. Ill persons ranged in age from less than 1 year to 78 years, with a median age of 33 years. Thirty percent of ill persons were children 10 years of age or younger. Fifty percent of ill persons were female. Among 36 persons with available information, 13 (36%) reported being hospitalized, and no deaths were reported.

Initial Announcement

July 23, 2012

CDC is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in many states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Poultry Improvement Plan, and Veterinary Services to investigate an outbreak of human Salmonella Hadar infections linked to chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry from Hatchery B in Idaho. The mail-order hatchery has not been named at the request of state authorities. Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify cases of illness that may be part of these outbreaks. In PulseNet, the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC, DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria are obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak.

These outbreaks can be visually described with a chart showing the number of persons who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve or epi curve. Illnesses that occurred after June 14, 2012 might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks. Please see the Salmonella Outbreak Investigations: Timeline for Reporting Cases for more details.

Contact with live poultry, including baby or adult birds, can be a source of human Salmonella infections. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children. Additional recommendations are available.

Mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores, and others who sell or display chicks, ducklings and other live poultry should provide health-related information Adobe PDF file Cdc-pdf[PDF – 1 page] to owners and potential purchasers of these birds prior to the point of purchase. This should include information about the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection from contact with live poultry.

At a Glance:
  • Case Count: 46
  • States: 11
  • Deaths: 0
  • Hospitalizations: 13