The multistate outbreak of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, or Salmonella Hadar has grown from 300 cases in early August to 344 as of September 23, 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak has affected people from 42 states and Puerto Rico. The newest 44 cases were reported from Alabama (1), Arizona (1), Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), Kentucky (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (1), New York (4), North Carolina (4), Ohio (6), Pennsylvania (4), South Carolina (3), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (2), Texas (1), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (1).
The investigation into the outbreak has been linked to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry from Mt. Healthy Hatcheries in Ohio where approximately eight out of 10 patients reported contact with live poultry in the week before their illness began.
Testing of some of the Salmonella Infantis or Newport strains reveal some antibiotic resistance.
The CDC offers the following advice to reduce the risk of contracting Salmonella:
DO
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live baby poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.
- Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.
- Clean any equipment or materials associated with raising or caring for live poultry outside the house, such as cages or feed or water containers.
DON’T
- Don’t let children younger than 5 years of age, older adults, or people with weak immune systems handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry.
- Don’t snuggle or kiss the birds, touch your mouth, or eat or drink around live baby poultry.
- Don’t let live baby poultry inside the house, in bathrooms, or especially in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens or outdoor patios.
- Don’t eat or drink in the area where the birds live or roam.
- Don’t give live baby poultry as gifts to young children.
