Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Chickens and Ducks at Homes: CDC

Seven cases have been recorded across six states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 25, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

An outbreak of salmonella has been linked to poultry in people’s backyards, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on May 5.

Seven people across six states have become sick from salmonella “after contact with backyard poultry,” the CDC said in an alert.

Although none of the individuals have required hospitalization, and no deaths have been recorded, health officials are urging people to be careful if they have poultry such as chickens or ducks in their backyards.

Salmonella are bacteria that can make people sick. More than 1 million salmonella infections are estimated to occur in the United States each year, according to the CDC.

The states with recorded infections are Florida, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin. There may be additional infections that have not been reported.

The poultry can carry salmonella germs even if they appear healthy and clean, the CDC says. The germs can spread easily to any objects in areas where poultry live and roam, and people can get sick from touching the poultry or anything in their environment and then touching their mouths or food and swallowing the germs.

People should always wash their hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, objects in their living areas, or collecting eggs, according to the CDC. The public health agency advises keeping a dedicated pair of footwear for the coop and keeping those shoes or boots, as well as birds and supplies, outside of the house at all times.

Young children are more likely to put items in their mouths and fail to wash their hands properly, so children younger than 5 years of age should not be allowed to touch birds or anything in their living areas, the CDC says.

Young children, the elderly, and others with developing or weakened immune systems are most susceptible to becoming seriously ill if they contract salmonella.

People with backyard poultry should also collect eggs often, as eggs that sit in the nest can become dirty or break, the CDC said in another statement. Other tips on egg safety include keeping them refrigerated to slow germ growth.

Backyard poultry is not the only source of salmonella. The bacteria can also contaminate other food, including commercially produced chicken. Federal regulators found in 2021 that more than one in every 25 packages of chicken at grocery stores were contaminated with the bacteria.

Salmonella symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea. Symptoms typically appear between six hours and six days after infection and last for up to seven days.

People who suffer from salmonella infections are advised to make sure they stay hydrated. Those who suffer from extreme symptoms are encouraged to contact their doctors.