Saturday, June 11, 2022

CDC Investigation: Multi-State Outbreak Of Salmonella infections Linked To Poultry Contact














#16,814

Three years ago, in The 8 Zoonotic Diseases Of Most Concern In The United States, in a joint CDC, USDA, DOI report listing the top (n=56) zoonotic diseases of national concern for the United States, Salmonellosis came in 2nd only to Avian flu.

From the CDC Salmonella  website:

CDC estimates Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Food is the source for most of these illnesses.Most people who get ill from Salmonella have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
  • Symptoms usually begin 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last 4 to 7 days.
  • Most people recover without specific treatment and should not take antibiotics. Antibiotics are typically used only to treat people who have severe illness or who are at risk for it.
  • Some people’s illness may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

While food is the most common source for these illnesses, the handling of live animals is also frequently cited.  A few recent outbreaks include:

Exposure to backyard poultry, and to baby chicks often bought as pets for Easter, produce outbreaks almost every year, usually in the spring.  This year is no different, and yesterday the CDC issued the following outbreak alert. 


CDC Media Alert: Backyard poultry contact linked to more than 200 Salmonella illnesses in 2022
Media Statement

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 10 2022
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

A CDC investigation notice regarding multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/backyardpoultry-06-22/index.html

Key points:
  • CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections linked to contact with backyard poultry.
  • In total, 219 illnesses have been reported from 38 states, and 27 people have been hospitalized.
  • One in four sick people are children younger than 5 years.
  • One death has been reported from Tennessee.
  • The true number of sick people is likely much higher than the reported number, as many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.
  • Backyard poultry can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread in areas where the poultry live and roam.
  • These outbreaks occur annually and coincide with the increase in baby poultry purchases, beginning in the spring. Last year in 2021, a total of 1,135 people got sick from contact with backyard poultry.
  • These Salmonella outbreaks are not related to recent cases of H5N1 bird flu viruses detected in U.S. wild birds and poultry. However, backyard poultry owners should be aware that the steps needed to stay healthy around their flocks are similar for both diseases.
Take steps to enjoy your birds while staying healthy:
  • Always wash your hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, their supplies or collecting eggs.
  • Use a pair of dedicated shoes or boots for your coop and don’t wear them inside your house.
  • Keep birds and supplies outside the house to prevent spreading germs into your house.
  • Don’t let children younger than 5 years touch the birds (including chicks and ducklings) or anything in the area where the birds live and roam. This helps protect young children from getting sick, as their immune systems are still developing, are more likely to put items in their mouths or not wash hands fully.
About Salmonella: 
  • Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
  • The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
  • In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized.
  • Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.
If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.

While not connected to the current H5N1 Avian flu epizootic (in poultry and wild birds), the CDC offers the following advice:

If you must handle wild birds or sick or dead poultry, minimize direct contact by wearing gloves and wash your hands with soap and water after touching birds. If available, wear respiratory protection such as a medical facemask and eye protection such as goggles.

Along with this advice for those dealing with live poultry. 

Credit CDC

While the jury is still out, but there are concerns that this year's outbreak of HPAI H5 - the first since 2015 - has become so well entrenched that it could spark more frequent outbreaks in the future. 



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