Contact with backyard poultry drives salmonella outbreak in more than 38 states – FOX13 News Memphis

Contact with backyard poultry has led to salmonella outbreaks in more than 38 states nationwide.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 219 cases of salmonella have been reported in 2022 so far in the United States. So far, 27 people have been hospitalized, one person has died and 38 states have been affected.

Backyard poultry refers to home-raised chickens and ducks. You can get sick by touching them or touching anything in their area and then touching your mouth or food, according to the CDC.

“Backyard poultry can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to areas where poultry live and roam,” the CDC explains.

KSNT says illnesses began in February 2022 and peaked around May 5, 2022. Texas, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin each had 10 to 15 cases of salmonella.

According to AARP, 2022 is the third year the CDC has investigated salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry. The CDC, according to AARP, says these outbreaks are happening because of the increased number of chicks purchased in early spring. In 2021, 1,135 people became ill from outbreaks linked to backyard chickens and ducks but not linked to H5N1 avian influenza viruses.

Here are some ways to prevent a salmonella outbreak, according to the CDC:

• Wash your hands with soap after touching backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything in the area where they live and roam. Use hand sanitizer if soap is not available.
• Do not kiss or cuddle poultry
• Do not eat or drink around them
• Clean up supplies used to care for your herd and do so outside of your home.
• Watch the children around them
• Discard cracked eggs
• Rub the dirt on the eggs with fine sandpaper and do not wash them as this can attract germs to the egg.
• Chill the eggs
• Cook the eggs before eating them

Salmonella symptoms, according to the CDC:

• Fever above 102 degrees
• Diarrhea
• stomach cramps
• Vomiting and unable to retain liquids
• Dehydration

Children 5 and under, adults 65 and older, and people with underlying health conditions and weakened immune systems can suffer from serious illnesses that require medical treatment, according to the CDC. If you have any of these symptoms, call your healthcare provider. You can also contact your state’s health department for more information.

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