WASHINGTON — Public health officials are reminding people with backyard chickens or ducks to take important health safety steps around their flock as the CDC investigates multistate outbreaks of salmonella.
At least 109 people have gotten sick since late February across 29 states, with 33 hospitalizations. Data shows contact with backyard poultry is what's making people sick, according to the CDC. The states with the most cases are Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma.
Even if they look healthy and clean, backyard poultry like chickens and ducks can carry salmonella bacteria, which easily spreads in the areas where the animals live and roam.
If you have backyard chickens or ducks, here are ways to stay healthy.
- Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after touching backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything in the area where they live and roam.
- Consider keeping hand sanitizer in your coop if soap and water are not readily available.
- Do not snuggle or kiss backyard poultry.
- Do not eat or drink around backyard poultry.
- Don't let kids under 5 touch chicks, ducklings or any other backyard poultry. Young children are more likely to get sick from salmonella.
- Keep animals, food and other supplies out of the house, including shoes you wear in the coop. Clean supplies outside the house.
- Collect eggs often.
- Throw away cracked eggs. Germs can enter the eggs more easily through a cracked shell.
- Clean eggs with a brush, cloth or fine sandpaper. Don't wash: colder water can pull germs into the egg.
- Refrigerate eggs to keep them fresh.
- Cook eggs until both the white and yolk are firm.
Salmonella symptoms
Contact a healthcare provider if you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
- Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
- Bloody diarrhea
- So much vomiting you cannot keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as infrequent urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when you stand up
