WARNING- SALMONELLA OUTBREAK:
474 people sick in 46 states from contact with backyard poultry like chickens and ducks. One-third of sick people are children younger than 5 years. Take steps to keep your family healthy around your flock.
One in three sick people is a child younger than 5 years. Don’t let young children touch chicks, ducklings, or other backyard poultry.
Backyard poultry 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. 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.
Stay healthy by following these steps-
- Wash your hands
- Be safe around backyard flocks
- Supervise kids around flocks
- Handle eggs safely
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these severe symptoms:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
- Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
For more information, visit the CDC Investigation page.