WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 184 people across multiple states have been sickened in three Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry, including one death and 53 hospitalizations, as health officials warn of elevated risks for young children and poultry owners.
The agency said 150 additional illnesses were identified across 18 new states in an updated outbreak notice tied to contact with backyard chickens and ducks.
Federal and state investigators are examining three related outbreaks, which the CDC said remain open. More than one-quarter of those infected are children younger than 5 years old.
The largest outbreak has involved an unusually high number of people reporting contact with ducks, according to the CDC.
Health officials have linked the outbreak strains to five hatcheries and said the CDC is working with state partners to notify those businesses and reduce the spread of Salmonella contamination.
A person in Washington state has died as part of the outbreak investigation, the agency said.
The CDC warned that backyard poultry can carry Salmonella bacteria even when birds appear healthy and clean. The bacteria can spread through contact with poultry, eggs, feed containers, coops, shoes, or surfaces where birds roam.
The agency urged poultry owners to wash their hands after handling birds or eggs, avoid kissing or snuggling poultry, and keep poultry-related supplies outside the home.
The CDC also advised that children younger than 5 should not handle chicks, ducklings, or other backyard poultry because they face a higher risk of severe illness.
Businesses that sell or display poultry should source birds from hatcheries that take steps to reduce contamination, sanitize display areas between shipments, and provide handwashing stations near poultry areas, the CDC said.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, fever, vomiting, dehydration, and bloody diarrhea. The CDC said people should contact a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen or persist for more than two days.
Additional outbreak information is available through the CDC outbreak notice.
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