CDC warns of Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry flocks

A CDC investigation notice regarding outbreaks of Salmonella infections has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/backyardpoultry-05-24/index.html

Key Points:

• 109 people from 29 states have gotten sick from Salmonella after touching or caring for backyard poultry. 33 people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
• In this outbreak, 43% of the people infected with Salmonella are under 5 years old.
• Backyard poultry can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam.
• You can get sick from touching your backyard poultry or anything in their environment and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing Salmonella

What You Should Do:

• Wash your hands immediately after touching backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything in the area where they live and roam.
• Supervise kids around flocks. Young children are more likely to become very ill from Salmonella.
• Don’t kiss or snuggle backyard poultry, and don’t eat or drink around them. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick.
• Handle eggs safely.
• Call you healthcare provider right away if you are experiencing any severe symptoms of Salmonella.

What Stores Selling Backyard Poultry Should Do:

• Source poultry from hatcheries that take steps to reduce Salmonella
• Clean and sanitize poultry display areas between shipments of new poultry.
• This informational poster describes ways to stay healthy with backyard flocks. Place it right beside flock display areas, and hand it out to customers.

What Backyard Poultry Hatcheries Should Do:

• Use best management practices to help prevent Salmonella in poultry.
• Participate in the voluntary USDA-NPIP U.S. Salmonella Monitored Program and certify that your flocks are monitored for Salmonella germs.
• Provide health information to owners and potential buyers of poultry before purchase.

Salmonella Symptoms:

• Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
  • Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
  • Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
• Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
• For more information about Salmonella, see the Salmonella Questions and Answers page.

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

Thank you,

CDC News Media Branch
404-639-3286
media@cdc.gov

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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