Public health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to contact with backyard poultry. As of May 16, 109 people across 29 states have been infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella. While no deaths have been reported, 33 individuals have been hospitalized.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of taking precautions when handling backyard poultry to prevent the spread of this bacteria. Backyard Poultry and Salmonella Backyard poultry, such as chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they appear healthy and clean. These germs can spread easily to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam.
Humans can get sick by touching backyard poultry or anything in their environment and then touching their mouth or food, swallowing the Salmonella germs. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data indicate that contact with backyard poultry is making people sick. The illnesses have been reported from Feb.
28, 2024, to April 30, 2024, and the true number of sick people is likely higher than reported, as many recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. Of those interviewed, 73 percent reported contact with backyard poultry, and 67 percent of those with information available had purchased or obtained poultry before their illness. The poultry was purchased from multiple retail stores and hatcheries, and no common supplier has been identified across all .
