The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent an alert about an ongoing investigation into a salmonella outbreak it says may involve backyard chickens and ducks.
“Backyard poultry, such as chickens and ducks, can carry salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean,” the CDC said. “These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam. You can get sick from touching your backyard poultry or anything in their environment and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing Salmonella germs.
” Few details were provided about the outbreak, including whether the salmonella cases are linked. Instead, it mainly advised people who have backyard flocks to handle them with care and wash their hands after touching the chickens, their eggs, or areas where they live and roam. “Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after touching backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything in the area where they live and roam,” the notice said.
“Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available. Consider keeping hand sanitizer at your coop. Be safe around backyard flocks.
Don’t kiss or snuggle backyard poultry, and don’t eat or drink around them.” It also advised that children under the age of 5 shouldn’t touch chicks, ducklings, or other backyard poultry because they have a higher chance of contracting salmonella. The CDC noted that eggs that sit in a coop or nest can break or become contaminated.
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