Hi, I'm Sean Stapleton,
a veterinarian and epidemiologist at CDC.
We are investigating several Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry.
Chickens, ducks and other poultry can carry
Salmonella germs while looking healthy and clean.
These germs can make you sick if you touch your mouth or food with unwashed hands
after touching your birds or things you use to care for them.
I'm here to show you some steps you can take to stay healthy around
your flock. Wash your hands with soap and water after touching your birds
or anything in the area where they live and roam.
Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at your coop
like this one to use until you can get to a sink.
Have a dedicated outdoor coop for your flock
and keep their supplies there.
It's a good idea to set aside a pair of shoes like these to wear
only when caring for your flock and keep them outside.
Collect eggs often,
don’t use cracked ones and store eggs in your refrigerator.
You can rub dirt off of eggs with fine sandpaper, a brush or a cloth.
Don't wash eggs with water because that can pull germs inside.
It's important to limit young children's contact with your flock
because they can get very sick from Salmonella.
That's why CDC doesn't recommend letting kids under
five touch chicks, ducklings or adult poultry.
For more tips, go to cdc.gov/backyardpoultry.