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Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Altona and Salmonella Johannesburg Infections Linked to Chicks and Ducklings

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Spotlight

Image of baby chick and duckling CDC Poster: Reducing Your Risk of a Salmonella Infection from Contact with Live Baby Poultry [PDF - 880 KB]

Afiche de los CDC: Reduzca su riesgo de infección por Salmonella por el contacto con crías de aves de corral [PDF - 839 KB]

CDC Feature: Risk of Human Salmonella Infections from Live Baby Poultry

Formatted Article: What you should know about Salmonella if you keep live poultry [PDF - 379 KB]

Outbreak Highlights, October 6, 2011 (FINAL Update)

Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and agriculture officials linked two outbreaks of Salmonella infections to chicks and ducklings from a single mail-order hatchery.
For both Salmonella Altona and Salmonella Johannesburg outbreaks, findings of multiple traceback investigations of live chicks and ducklings from homes of ill persons have identified the same single mail-order hatchery in Ohio as the source of these chicks and ducklings.
These particular outbreaks appear to be over. However, contact with live poultry can be a source of human Salmonella infections; therefore, you should always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children. Additional recommendations are available.
Mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores, and others who sell or display chicks, ducklings and other live poultry should provide health-related information to owners and potential purchasers of these birds prior to the point of purchase. This should include information about the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection from contact with live poultry.
Go to October 6, 2011 for a full report.