Four the fourth time in five years, Salmonella from contact with live poultry has sickened hundreds of Americans. Seven separate simultaneous Salmonella outbreaks are currently linked to backyard flocks of chickens and ducks. At least 324 people in 35 states have been sickened, 66 have been hospitalized and one person has died, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Salmonella "was not considered to be a contributing factor in the reported death." The majority of those sickened, 88 percent, were children 5 years of age or younger. Those sickened contracted Salmonella infections after handling live poultry infected with the bacteria and then not washing hands before touching their faces, eating or preparing food. The state-by-state breakdown of cases is as … [Read more...]
Salmonella from Live Poultry Linked to Four Outbreaks
Salmonella from live poultry has been linked to four multistate outbreaks. Forty states are affected by the outbreaks which have sickened 181 and hospitalized 33. Most of those sickened reported tending to backyard flocks before becoming ill. The outbreaks have been linked to live poultry from multiple hatcheries sold at 17 different feed supply stores. "Many ill people in these outbreaks reported bringing the live poultry into their homes, and others reported kissing or cuddling with the live poultry.These behaviors increase a person’s risk of a Salmonella infection," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By state the cases reported are as follows: Alabama (17), Arizona (3), Arkansas (4), California (3), Colorado (2), Delaware (2), Georgia (4), Indiana … [Read more...]
Salmonella From Live Poultry Sickened 363 in 2014
Salmonella from live poultry sickened 363 people in 2014. The illnesses were part of five clusters that occurred from February through October. Many of those who became ill reported purchasing live poultry from the mail order hatchery, Mt. Healthy Hatcheries in Ohio, which was also linked to Salmonella outbreaks in 2012 and 2013. The outbreak strains in the 2014 outbreak included Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Hadar. Illnesses were reported from 43 states and Puerto Rico. When combined, the illnesses represent the largest live poultry-associated salmonellosis outbreak in the United States. About 35 percent of those who were sickened 10 years old or younger. Thirty three percent of those sickened were hospitalized. About a quarter of those sickened reported … [Read more...]
Salmonella and Backyard Poultry Flocks
This is the time of year when many Americans begin laying plans to care for backyard poultry flocks. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how easy it is to contract Salmonella infections tending these flocks and children are often hardest hit by these illnesses. There have been five Salmonella outbreaks linked to live poultry since 2012. On average, about 30 percent of those sickened are children under 10. These outbreaks are linked to chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry supplied by mail-order hatcheries either directly or through feed stores and other companies, all of which are supposed to provide health-related information to owners and potential buyers, including information about the risk of Salmonella. Anyone handling live poultry, or anything in the area where they … [Read more...]
Mt. Healthy Hatchery Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Live Poultry Ends
The CDC says that the multistate outbreak of human Salmonella infections linked to live poultry in backyard flocks appears to be over. However, consumers should take steps to protect themselves from this pathogenic bacteria if they choose to keep chickens, ducks, and turkey. Mt. Healthy Hatcheries in Ohio was the source of chicks and ducklings, as determined by multiple traceback investigations. This is the same mail-order hatchery that has been associated with multiple outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to live poultry in 2012 and 2013. A total of 363 people in 43 states and Puerto Rico were infected with outbreak strains of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, or Salmonella Hadar. Thirty-three percent of ill persons were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The … [Read more...]
Live Poultry Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 344 in 42 States
A Salmonella outbreak linked to live poultry from Mt. Healthy Hatcheries in Ohio has sickened 344 people in 42 states an Puerto Rico, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One third of the patients are children under 10. This is the third straight year that Mt. Healthy has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak. Some of the outbreak strains which include Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, or Salmonella Hadar are resistant to antibiotics. Thirty one percent of those sickened have required hospitalization. Many of the patients, Since the last update on August 8, 2014, 44 new cases have been reported. By state, they are as follows: Alabama (1), Arizona (1), Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak is 4th in 4 Years for Mail Order Hatchery
A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 300 people in 42 states and Puerto Rico is the fourth in four years to be linked to Mt. Healthy Hatcheries, a mail order hatchery in Ohio. In each of the outbreaks, many of those sickened have been children under ten. Two people died. All of the outbreaks included multiple strains. An all of them had large numbers of sick children. So far, seven strains of Salmonella have been identified in outbreaks linked to the mail order chicks and ducks. The current outbreak has three strains: Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport and Salmonella Hadar. About 37 percent of the cases are children or younger. In 2013, 158 people in 30 states were sickened by four strains: Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Lille, Salmonella Newport and … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Live Poultry Expands, 300 in 42 States Sick
A Salmonella outbreak linked to live poultry has sickened at least 300 people in 42 states and Puerto Rico, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's 49 new cases and five more states since the last update on June 27. Sixty four people have been hospitalized. The 49 new cases were reported from the following states: Alabama (2), Arizona (1), Colorado (1), Georgia (3), Idaho (2), Iowa (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (3), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New York (3), North Carolina (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (4), Puerto Rico (1), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (3), Vermont (1), Virginia (8), Washington (1), and West Virginia (4). The total case count is as follows: Alabama (8), Arizona … [Read more...]
Salmonella from Backyard Poultry Flocks Sickens 251 in 37 States
Salmonella from live poultry kept in backyard flocks has sickened 251 people in 37 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of 125 cases since the last update on May 30, 2014. Fifty four people have been hospitalized. Health officials have linked the outbreak to chicks, ducklings and other live poultry from Mt. Healthy Hatcheries in Ohio through epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback investigations. This is the same mail-order hatchery that has been associated with multiple outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to live poultry in past years, including in 2012 and 2013. Onset of illness for those who became ill, who range in age from less than one year to 95 years, were from February 4 and June 4. … [Read more...]
Children Hit Hardest by Salmonella Outbreak from Backyard Flocks
Almost 40 percent of Salmonella cases in the current outbreak linked to backyard flocks are children under the age of 10, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Salmonella Newport outbreak has sickened 126 people in 26 states. At least 28 people have been hospitalized. Health investigators have traced the source of contaminated chicks and ducklings to Mt. Healthy Hatcheries in Ohio, a mail-order hatchery. This is the third time in three years that the hatchery has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak. At least 158 people were sickened in the 2013 outbreak. Two people in the 2012 outbreak died. Mt. Healthy Hatcheries also sells birds to retailers. At least 52 of the case patients bought the birds from feed or farm store companies … [Read more...]
