Federal health officials are reminding people to stay safe around backyard poultry after two people died and nearly 600 others were sickened in 48 states.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday linked a recent salmonella outbreak to backyard birds like chickens and ducks.
"Backyard poultry, such as chickens and ducks, can carry salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam," the CDC said in a statement. "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."
As of July 5, a total of 572 people have been infected with one of the outbreak strains, according to the CDC. Of those, 92 people had to be hospitalized. Two deaths have been reported, one from Tennessee and one from Wyoming.
The CDC says illnesses started on dates ranging from February 3 to June 22. About 23% of those who fell ill were children under 5-years-old.
The only states not included in the outbreak are Alaska and Rhode Island. Texas has the highest case count at 37. States with 15 or more cases include California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, Arizona, Ohio, North Carolina and New York.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the animals they came into contact with in the week before they got sick. Of the 279 people interviewed, 196 (70%) reported contact with backyard poultry before getting sick. Others reported eating eggs or meat from backyard poultry before getting sick.
The CDC said the true number of sick people in the outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Most people infected with salmonella experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment after four to seven days, though some illnesses may require antibiotics.
To decrease your risk of contracting salmonella from backyard poultry, the CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water immediately after touching the animals, their eggs or anything in the area where they live and roam. Always supervise children around backyard poultry and make sure they wash their hands properly afterward.
"Don't kiss or snuggle backyard poultry, and don't eat or drink around them. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick," the CDC warned. "One in four sick people is a child younger than 5 years. Don't let young children touch chicks, ducklings or other backyard poultry."
If you're handling eggs, collect them often and throw away ones that have cracked.
"Rub off dirt on eggs with fine sandpaper, a brush or a cloth," the CDC advised. "Don't wash them because colder water can pull germs into the egg."
If you think you are sick from salmonella or may be affected by the outbreak, contact a health provider.
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