HHS HealthBeat (April 13, 2012)

It gets ugly with ducklings

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Spring is here, and what could be cuter than a little fluffy yellow chick or a duckling? Lots of things, because those birds can spread salmonella, which isn’t cute at all.

At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jennifer Mitchell cautions against giving chicks or ducklings to kids as pets. She says the birds can look healthy and clean but still carry salmonella:

“Those most at risk include infants and children younger than 5, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Young children are especially likely to develop a Salmonella infection because they love to pick up, snuggle, and kiss the chicks and ducklings.” (14 seconds)

An article about a salmonella outbreak related to a mail-order chick and duckling hatchery is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April 13, 2012