At your local Tractor Supply, Rural King, and farm supply stores, “Chick Days” are in full swing with Easter right around the corner. This means the inevitable sounds of chicks peeping, ducklings quacking, and children and adults alike squealing from the uncontrollable cuteness. However, this is also the time of year that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) begins to see a spike in Salmonella cases attributed to, what I affectionately call, “Chicken Kissing.” In 2017, the CDC reported 1120 cases of Salmonella bacterial infections related to poultry in the lower 48 states. Of those reported, 22% of people were hospitalized and one case resulted in death. Bacteria inhabit the world around us and within us. We each have
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Like most pet owners, poultry keepers have been known to be quite affectionate. That being said, please do not kiss your chickens or snuggle them close to your face and mouth. This intimate exposure considerably increases the risk of Salmonella transmission. Other effective preventative methods are:
• Washing hands with soap and water immediately after handling live poultry, eggs, manure, and equipment. o Adults should supervise young children’s hand washing. Antibacterial hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are unavailable.
• Children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems should not handle live poultry. o Poultry should be kept away from hospitals, schools, childcare centers, and nursing homes to prevent opportunistic infections.
• Safely cleaning and disinfecting coops. Remove dust, dirt, litter, and manure first, then disinfect the equipment or housing with an approved chemical disinfectant. o Set aside separate clothes and shoes to wear while feeding and caring for your flock.
• Keeping live poultry outside the home. o If you must keep poultry inside, separate them from food preparation and storage areas.
• Source healthy birds to begin or add to your …show more content…
o Monitor daily, the health of your flock. When issues arise, contact a veterinarian or poultry professional.
• Cook eggs and poultry meat completely before consumption. It is also important to note that the CDC monitors Salmonella cases originating from other sources than just poultry. Salmonella infections have been caused by contaminated fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, chia seeds, microbiology laboratory exposure, pet turtles and lizards, rodents, dairy calves, pet guinea pigs, raw tuna, shell eggs, and chicken salad. Backyard poultry are not the only culprit when it comes to foodborne illness. However, due to their popularity and lack of consistent education surrounding keeping of backyard poultry, Salmonella cases have erupted. Safety is key when it comes to keeping any communicable disease at bay. Backyard poultry projects can be fun for the whole family, when operating under safe and monitored conditions. By all means, hold, talk to, spend time with, and enjoy your backyard flocks. Just be sure to wash your hands, and please don’t kiss your
Like most pet owners, poultry keepers have been known to be quite affectionate. That being said, please do not kiss your chickens or snuggle them close to your face and mouth. This intimate exposure considerably increases the risk of Salmonella transmission. Other effective preventative methods are:
• Washing hands with soap and water immediately after handling live poultry, eggs, manure, and equipment. o Adults should supervise young children’s hand washing. Antibacterial hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are unavailable.
• Children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems should not handle live poultry. o Poultry should be kept away from hospitals, schools, childcare centers, and nursing homes to prevent opportunistic infections.
• Safely cleaning and disinfecting coops. Remove dust, dirt, litter, and manure first, then disinfect the equipment or housing with an approved chemical disinfectant. o Set aside separate clothes and shoes to wear while feeding and caring for your flock.
• Keeping live poultry outside the home. o If you must keep poultry inside, separate them from food preparation and storage areas.
• Source healthy birds to begin or add to your …show more content…
o Monitor daily, the health of your flock. When issues arise, contact a veterinarian or poultry professional.
• Cook eggs and poultry meat completely before consumption. It is also important to note that the CDC monitors Salmonella cases originating from other sources than just poultry. Salmonella infections have been caused by contaminated fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, chia seeds, microbiology laboratory exposure, pet turtles and lizards, rodents, dairy calves, pet guinea pigs, raw tuna, shell eggs, and chicken salad. Backyard poultry are not the only culprit when it comes to foodborne illness. However, due to their popularity and lack of consistent education surrounding keeping of backyard poultry, Salmonella cases have erupted. Safety is key when it comes to keeping any communicable disease at bay. Backyard poultry projects can be fun for the whole family, when operating under safe and monitored conditions. By all means, hold, talk to, spend time with, and enjoy your backyard flocks. Just be sure to wash your hands, and please don’t kiss your