Key points
Public health officials in several states are investigating three multistate outbreaks of Salmonella illnesses linked to contact with backyard poultry.
- Over a quarter of the sick people in these outbreaks are children under 5 years old.
- The largest outbreak has an unusually high number of people reporting contact with ducks.
- Any backyard poultry can carry Salmonella germs that can make you sick. Always take steps to stay healthy around your flock.
Latest Update: May 14, 2026
CDC and public health officials in several states are collecting different types of data to investigate multistate outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis, Mbandaka, and Saintpaul infections.
Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data show that contact with backyard poultry is making people sick.
Epidemiologic Data
Cases
Since the last update on April 23, 2026, 150 new illnesses have been reported, including new outbreak strains of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Mbandaka.
- As of May 4, 2026, a total of 184 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Enteritidis (32 people), Mbandaka (19 people), and Saintpaul (133 people) have been reported from 31 states.
- Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 17, 2026, to April 20, 2026.
- Of 154 people with information available, 53 (34%) have been hospitalized.
- One death has been reported from Washington.
The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Demographic characteristics
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographic characteristics, and the animals they had contact with in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in these outbreaks ("n" is the number of people with information available for each characteristic).
Age
(n=184)
Range from <1 to 86 years
Median age of 31 years
28% under 5 years
Sex
(n=184)
57% female
43% male
Race
(n=153)
94% White
3% Asian
<1% Black
<1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
2% reported more than one race
Ethnicity
(n=152)
88% non-Hispanic
12% Hispanic
Animal contact
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the animals they came into contact with in the week before they got sick.
- Of 141 people interviewed, 110 (78%) reported contact with backyard poultry.
- Of 65 patients with Salmonella Saintpaul infections who have specified species of backyard poultry, 51 (78%) reported chicks or chickens and 35 (54%) reported ducklings or ducks.
- Of 25 patients with information, 16 (64%) specify Pekin ducks.
- Patients included in the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak have more frequently reported contact with ducklings or ducks, specifically Pekin ducks, versus other outbreaks where most patients reported contact with chicks and chickens.
Find more information across multiple years of past outbreaks of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry in this publication.
Traceback data
Of 70 people who reported owning backyard poultry, 61 (87%) purchased or obtained poultry since January 1, 2026. People reported getting their poultry from various places. Most reported purchasing from agricultural retail stores. Investigators continue to collect information about where sick people obtained poultry, including what hatcheries supplied the retail stores where people purchased poultry.
These outbreak strains have been linked to 5 hatcheries. CDC is working with state partners to notify the hatcheries of these links and assess any links to upstream suppliers. Additional hatcheries may be linked to these outbreaks as the investigation continues.
Laboratory data
Investigators in Ohio collected samples from backyard poultry or from the inside of boxes used to ship poultry from hatcheries to retail stores. WGS showed that the Salmonella Saintpaul and Mbandaka found in these samples were the same strains as those found in sick people.
One hundred and eighty-four human samples, 6 animal samples, and 1 environmental sample were assessed for predicted resistance by WGS analysis. Bacteria from 133 human samples and 6 animal samples predicted resistance to fosfomycin; all fosfomycin-resistant samples (100%) were Salmonella serotype Saintpaul. In addition, 27 human samples had predicted resistance to 1 or more of the following antibiotics: chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, tetracycline, and gentamicin; 32 human samples predicted nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin and resistance to nalidixic acid. Nineteen samples (18 human, 1 environmental) had no resistance.
Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, Salmonella illness with this predicted resistance may not be treatable with commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS).
Previous updates
CDC and public health officials in several states are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul infections.
Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data show that contact with backyard poultry is making people sick.
Epidemiologic Data
As of April 13, 2026, a total of 34 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul have been reported from 13 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 26, 2026, to March 31, 2026. Of 27 people with information available, 13 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Demographics
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the animals they had contact with in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Age
(n=34)
Range from <1 to 78 years
Median age of 12 years
41% under 5 years
Sex
(n=33)
58% male
42% female
Race
(n=28)
89% White
4% Asian
7% reported more than one race
Ethnicity
(n=29)
90% non-Hispanic
10% Hispanic
Animal contact
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the animals they came into contact with in the week before they got sick. Of the 29 people interviewed, 23 (79%) reported contact with backyard poultry.
Traceback data
Of 14 people who reported owning backyard poultry, 13 (93%) purchased or obtained poultry since January 1, 2026. People reported getting their poultry from various places, including agricultural retail stores. Investigators continue to collect information about where sick people obtained poultry and what hatcheries supplied the retail stores where ill people purchased poultry.
Laboratory data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause gastrointestinal illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from contact with the same type of animal.
Investigators in Ohio collected samples from backyard poultry. WGS showed that the Salmonella Saintpaul found in these samples were the same strain as those found in sick people.
Based on WGS analysis, bacteria from 34 people's samples predicted resistance to fosfomycin. Of these, 8 people's samples also predicted resistance to one or more of the following antibiotics: chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site.
Public Health Actions
CDC advises everyone to take steps to stay healthy around backyard poultry. CDC and state partners are working with hatcheries and stores that sell poultry to educate new poultry owners and control the spread of Salmonella at hatcheries.