Cinnaminson, NJ, August 14th, 2015
In late July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced four multistate outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks. At the time of the CDC announcement, 218 people had been infected in 41 states. Of the infected people, 50 had to be hospitalized.
The CDC reports that epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback findings have linked these four outbreaks of human Salmonella infections to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry from multiple hatcheries. Some of the safety tips for people with backyard flocks of poultry provided by the agency includes:
- 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.
- Do not let live poultry inside the house or especially in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens, or outdoor patios.
- Children younger than 5 years, adults older than 65, and people with weakened immune systems should not handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry. People in these groups are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.
- Stay outdoors when cleaning any equipment or materials used to raise or care for live poultry, such as cages or feed or water containers.
“People who raise backyard poultry need to understand that any contact with poultry and their environment has the potential to make people sick from Salmonella infections,” said Joy Dell’Aringa, M.S., RM (NRM), CFSP, National Food Director at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Even live poultry that appear healthy and show no signs of illness can be carrying the bacteria.”
To help identify
Salmonella and a wide range of other microbial pathogens, EMSL Analytical, Inc. provides environmental testing services. These services can help to identify exposure risks, prevent outbreaks, and determine the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfection procedures. EMSL has also created an educational video about
Salmonella that can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/1v59mjWwJZ8.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, indoor air quality, consumer product and materials testing services and products for professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.
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