The CDC says drug-resistant Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry have infected 184 people across 31 states, sent 53 to hospitals, and resulted in one death, with children under 5 making up 25% of cases.
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned earlier this spring that a Salmonella outbreak tied to backyard poultry was spreading. the numbers were already troubling.. Now the CDC’s latest update shows how quickly the situation has accelerated. with confirmed cases nearly doubling and reaching far beyond the Midwest and the Northwest.
The CDC says drug-resistant Salmonella outbreaks linked to contact with backyard poultry have infected 184 people across 31 states as of its May 14 update.. Hospitalizations have risen as well—from 13 reported in the CDC’s earlier notice to 53 in the newest figure.. One fatality has also been confirmed: a person from Washington state.
Children are at the center of the concern. The CDC reports that 25% of those infected are children under 5 years old, a group the agency says is especially vulnerable because their immune systems are still developing.
The outbreak’s threat goes beyond sheer spread.. In April. the CDC warned that the Salmonella strains involved were resistant to fosfomycin. a drug commonly used to treat infections.. At the time, the CDC also reported that strains linked to the outbreak showed resistance to other commonly used antibiotics.
That April warning initially pointed to 34 people sickened, with 13 needing hospitalization. The CDC cautioned then that the true number of infections may be higher than reported because not everyone with Salmonella seeks medical care.
In its May 14 update, the CDC says its investigation now involves three Salmonella outbreaks, and that the pattern of cases has widened substantially since the last update just weeks earlier. “The largest outbreak has an unusually high number of people reporting contact with ducks,” the CDC wrote.
As cases broadened, so did the geography. The CDC says 31 states now have confirmed cases—an 18-state jump since its prior update. Kentucky currently leads with 22 confirmed cases, followed by Michigan with 21. Washington has reported 9 cases and remains the only state with a confirmed death.
The CDC listed the following state-by-state case counts as of May 14:
California: 1
Colorado: 3
Florida: 3
Georgia: 4
Idaho: 10
Illinois: 7
Indiana: 10
Iowa: 1
Kentucky: 22
Maine: 10
Maryland: 6
Massachusetts: 2
Michigan: 21
Minnesota: 3
Mississippi: 2
Missouri: 1
Montana: 2
Nevada: 1
New Hampshire: 1
New York: 1
North Carolina: 1
Ohio: 15
Oregon: 3
Pennsylvania: 2
Tennessee: 4
Texas: 3
Utah: 5
Vermont: 5
Washington: 9
West Virginia: 9
Wisconsin: 17
The CDC also provided a map showing confirmed cases.
For people who think they may have been exposed. the CDC lists typical Salmonella symptoms as watery diarrhea that might include blood or mucus. and stomach cramps that can be severe.. Additional possible symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.. Symptoms can last 4 to 7 days and usually appear within 6 hours to 6 days after infection.
To reduce risk. the CDC advises anyone who comes into contact with backyard poultry—or is around the birds’ grounds or supplies—to wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. avoid wearing shoes from the birds’ environment inside the house. and keep birds and their supplies out of the home.. The agency also says children younger than 5 should not touch the birds or interact with the area where the birds are kept.
While anyone can get Salmonella, the CDC emphasizes that children under 5, people with weakened immune systems, and those 65 or older are more likely to experience severe illness.
CDC Salmonella outbreak backyard poultry drug-resistant Salmonella fosfomycin resistance hospitalizations children under 5 Washington death 31 states