A deadly Salmonella outbreak in 48 states is linked to live poultry kept in backyard flocks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report about this outbreak yesterday, stating that since the last update on July 13, 2017, 172 more people have been sickened.
There are 10 separate multistate outbreaks in this huge outbreak, caused by ten different strains of Salmonella. They are: Salmonella Braenderup, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i-, Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Litchfield, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Muenchen, and Salmonella Typhimurium. The issue is that poultry can carry this pathogenic bacteria and still appear healthy, with no signs of illness.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 4, 2017 to July 31, 2017. One death has been reported, and 215 ill persons have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so serious.
Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory findings link the 10 outbreaks to contact with live poultry, such as chicks and ducklings, from multiple hatcheries. In interviews, 74% of 672 people interviewed reported contact with live poultry the week before they got sick.
If you choose to have a backyard flock, follow these rules to help keep yourself and your family safe. Always wash your hands well with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live or roam. Wash your hands after handling shoes or clothing that have touched live poultry. And supervise hand washing for young children. If you don’t have immediate access to soap and water, use hand sanitizers until you are able to get to a sink.
Never let live poultry into the house, especially where you prepare and serve food and drink. Don’t eat or drink where the birds lie or roam.
Children under the age of 5, adults older than 65, and anyone with a chronic illness or compromised immune system should never handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or any other live poultry. Do not snuggle or kiss the birds.
If you collect eggs from your hens, always wash your hands with soap and water after handling the birds, their bedding, or anything in their environment. Collect eggs every day. Eggs that spend a lot of time in the nest can get dirty or break. Always throw away cracked eggs, and refrigerate eggs as soon as they are collected. Don’t wash eggs, because cold water can pull bacteria into the egg. And always cook eggs thoroughly. Raw and undercooked eggs can make you sick.
There havde been eight Salmonella outbreaks linked to live poultry in the United States since 2012. Six deaths have been attributed to those illnesses.
