Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella infections, affecting 34 people in 13 states. Of those infected, 13 have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. The outbreak is linked to domestic poultry, including chickens and ducks.
According to the CDC, domestic poultry can carry Salmonella bacteria even if they look healthy and clean. People can become infected by touching these birds or their environments and then touching their mouths or food without proper handwashing. The incubation period is typically 6 hours to 6 days, and symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most cases last 4 to 7 days and resolve without treatment, but some require hospitalization. Young children under 5, adults 65 and older, and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for severe illness.
The CDC recommends always washing hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds after touching poultry, their supplies, or eggs. Dedicated footwear should be used for poultry areas, and poultry and their supplies should be kept outside the home to reduce bacterial spread. Children under 5 years should avoid contact with poultry or areas where poultry live and roam.
For businesses that exhibit poultry, the CDC advises sourcing birds from hatcheries that minimize Salmonella contamination, cleaning and disinfecting display areas before and after receiving new birds, providing handwashing stations or hand sanitizer for customers, and restricting easy access to poultry, especially by children, to reduce infection risk.