Backyard chickens are causing outbreaks of salmonella More than 100 people in 29 states have gotten sick from backyard poultry There have been 33 hospitalizations, but no deaths TUESDAY, May 28, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Backyard chickens are causing outbreaks of salmonella across the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns.
About 109 people in 29 states have gotten sick from salmonella after touching or caring for backyard poultry, the CDC said in a . Of those, 33 people have been hospitalized, the CDC said. No deaths have been reported.
More than 2 in 5 people affected by the outbreak are children younger than 5, the agency added. Backyard poultry can carry salmonella bacteria even if they look healthy and clean, the CDC noted. The germs can easily spread to anything in areas where poultry live and roam.
People can get sick from touching either backyard poultry or anything in their environment if they then touch their mouth or food and swallow salmonella germs. People infected with salmonella experience diarrhea, and stomach cramps, with symptoms usually starting six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover from salmonella without treatment within a week, the CDC said.
However, some people can experience more severe illness that will require medical treatment or hospitalization. The most vulnerable include young children, seniors ages 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems. The CDC recommended that pe.
