Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Backyard Chicken Farms

Public health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to contact with backyard chickens. As of May 16, 109 people in 29 states have been infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella. No deaths have been reported, but 33 people have been hospitalized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stresses the importance of taking precautions when working with backyard chickens to prevent the spread of the bacteria.

Backyard Poultry and Salmonella
Backyard poultry, such as chickens and ducks, may carry Salmonella bacteria even if they appear healthy and clean. These bacteria spread easily to everything in the areas where the poultry live and roam. Humans can get sick by touching backyard poultry or anything around them and then ingesting the Salmonella bacteria through their mouths or food.

Epidemiological, laboratory, and tracing data indicate that contact with backyard poultry is the cause of illness in people. Illnesses were reported between February 28, 2024 and April 30, 2024, and the actual number of cases may be higher than reported because many people recovered without medical care and were not tested for Salmonella.

Of those interviewed, 73% reported exposure to backyard poultry, and of those with available information, 67% had purchased or obtained poultry before becoming ill. Poultry was purchased from multiple retail outlets and poultry farms, with no common source identified across all outbreaks.

Consumer Safety Tips:

To stay safe and prevent Salmonella infection when raising backyard poultry, the CDC recommends the following guidelines:

wash hands

Always wash your hands immediately with soap and water after touching your backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything in the surrounding environment. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. It is useful to keep hand sanitizer near the chicken coop.

Staying safe around your backyard flock

Avoid kissing or snuggling backyard chickens, and refrain from eating or drinking around them, as this can spread Salmonella to your mouth and make you sick. Keep chickens and any equipment used in the chicken coop to care for them, such as feeding bowls and shoes, outside the house. Wash these items outside as well.

Monitor the children around the herd

Always supervise children around backyard poultry and make sure to wash your hands properly. Children under the age of 5 should not touch chicks, ducklings, or other backyard poultry as they are more likely to be infected with bacteria such as Salmonella.

Handle eggs safely

Collect eggs frequently as eggs in nests may become soiled or cracked. Discard cracked eggs as bacteria on the shells can easily enter through the cracks. Do not wash eggs, but clean them with a brush, cloth, or fine sandpaper. Cold water can draw bacteria into the egg. Refrigerate eggs to maintain freshness and slow bacterial growth, and cook until yolks and whites are set. Cook egg dishes to an internal temperature of 160°F to kill bacteria.

Monitor your health

Contact your health care provider right away if you have any serious symptoms, including diarrhea, fever over 102°F, diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days that doesn't get better, bloody stools, excessive vomiting that makes it difficult to get rid of liquids, or signs of dehydration (such as difficulty passing urine, dry mouth or throat, or dizziness when standing up).

Advice for chicken retailers

Stores selling backyard chickens should source their chickens from farms that follow USDA best management practices to reduce Salmonella contamination. Chicken display areas should be cleaned and disinfected between shipments, and hand-washing stations or hand sanitizer should be provided next to chicken display areas. Display chickens out of reach of customers, especially children, to prevent direct contact. Provide potential buyers with health information detailing how to keep backyard chickens healthy.

Ongoing investigation

Public health investigators are using DNA fingerprinting to identify the disease that may be causing this outbreak. Samples taken from poultry crates in Ohio and Utah matched Salmonella strains found in infected people. Most people infected with Salmonella recover without antibiotics, but some strains can become resistant, complicating treatment.

CDC continues to recommend caution and good hygiene around backyard chickens to help reduce the spread of Salmonella.

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