Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 150 additional Salmonella cases across 18 states, raising the total in three multistate outbreaks associated with backyard poultry to 184 cases. These include 53 hospitalizations, with 40 new admissions, and one death in Washington state, according to the CDC update.
Children under five years old account for more than a quarter of those infected in these outbreaks. The CDC is investigating three outbreaks involving Salmonella strains linked to backyard poultry, with the largest outbreak involving a high number of people reporting contact with ducks.
Investigators have traced the outbreak strains to five hatcheries. The CDC is working with state partners to notify these hatcheries to enhance education for poultry owners and to control Salmonella at the source.
The CDC recommends washing hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling birds, their supplies, or eggs. It also advises using dedicated footwear for poultry areas, keeping birds and supplies outside the home, and preventing children under five from handling birds or being in areas where birds live or roam due to their higher risk of severe illness.
Businesses sourcing poultry should buy birds from hatcheries that take measures to reduce Salmonella contamination, regularly clean display areas, provide handwashing stations or hand sanitizers, and keep poultry out of reach of customers, especially children.
Salmonella symptoms typically include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within 6 hours to 6 days of exposure. Most people recover without treatment in 4 to 7 days, but severe illness requiring hospitalization is more likely in young children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals.