According to the CDC, as of July 12, 2012, there are now 144 people in 26 states who are sick with three outbreaks strains of Salmonella linked to live poultry from Mt. Heathy Hatchery in Ohio. Previously, 123 people were counted as part of the outbreak. The outbreak strains include Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Lille.
The case count is as follows: Alabama (4), Arizona (1), Delaware (1), Georgia (5), Illinois (1), Indiana (3), Kansas (1), Kentucky (5), Louisiana (1), Maine (4), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (2), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (16), North Carolina (14), Ohio (37), Pennsylvania (11), Rhode Island (1), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (11), Texas (2), Vermont (1), Virginia (10), West Virginia (7). Thirty-two people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. One patient has died, but it’s not clear whether the infection contributed to that death. Thirty-six percent of the patients are children 10 years of age or younger.
Twenty-one new cases are from nine states: Arizona (1), Maine (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1) North Carolina (2), Ohio (7), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (3) and Virginia (4). According to the epidemiological curve, the CDC expects there will be at least five more cases in this particular outbreak.
Illnesses began between March 1, 2012 and June 22, 2012. The patients range in age from less than one year to 100 years. Fifty-five percent of patients are female. Of those questioned, 85% had contact with live chicks and ducklings before becoming ill. Any hatchery or outlet that sells live poultry should provide health information to consumers about the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection from the birds.
