Multistate Outbreaks of Human Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry in Backyard Flocks, 2017 (Final Update)

Posted October 19, 2017 11:00 AM ET

These outbreak investigations are over. However, people can still get a Salmonella infection from live poultry, including those in backyard flocks. Read more information about Salmonella from live poultry and how people can reduce the chance they or their children will get an infection.

Outbreak Summary

1120
Cases

48
States

249
Hospitalizations

1
Death

  • This year saw the largest number of illnesses linked to contact with backyard poultry ever recorded by CDC. Contact with live poultry or their environment can make people sick with Salmonella infections. Live poultry such as chickens and ducks can be carrying Salmonella bacteria but appear healthy and clean, with no sign of illness.
    • As raising backyard flocks becomes more popular, more people are having contact with chickens and ducks – and may not know about the risk of Salmonella infection.
  • These outbreaks are a reminder to follow steps to keep your family healthy while enjoying your backyard flock.
    • Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where the birds live and roam.
    • Adults should supervise handwashing for children.
    • Do not let live poultry inside the house.
    • Do not let children younger than 5 years handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry without adult supervision.
  • In 2017, CDC and multiple states investigated 10 separate multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections in people who had contact with live poultry in backyard flocks.
    • The outbreak strains of Salmonella infected a reported 1120 people in 48 states and the District of Columbia
    • Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 4, 2017 to September 22, 2017.
    • 249 ill people were hospitalized. One death was reported from North Carolina.
  • Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory findings linked the 10 outbreaks to contact with live poultry, such as chicks and ducklings, from multiple hatcheries.
    • In interviews, 542 (70%) of 774 ill people reported contact with live poultry in the week before illness started.
  • The outbreaks were caused by Salmonella bacteria with several DNA fingerprints : Salmonella Braenderup, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i-, Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Litchfield, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Muenchen, and Salmonella Typhimurium.

Previous Outbreak Advisories

961
Cases

48
States

215
Hospitalizations

1
Death

  • Since the last update on July 13, 2017, 172 more ill people have been reported. The most recent illness began on July 31, 2017.
  • CDC and multiple states are investigating 10 separate multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections in people who had contact with live poultry in backyard flocks.
    • These outbreaks are caused by several DNA fingerprints of different Salmonella bacteria: Salmonella Braenderup, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i-, Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Litchfield, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Muenchen, and Salmonella Typhimurium.
  • The outbreak strains of Salmonella have infected a reported 961 people in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
    • Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 4, 2017 to July 31, 2017.
    • 215 ill people have been hospitalized. One death has been reported.
  • Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory findings link the 10 outbreaks to contact with live poultry, such as chicks and ducklings, from multiple hatcheries.
    • In interviews, 498 (74%) of 672 ill people reported contact with live poultry in the week before illness started.
  • Contact with live poultry or their environment can make people sick with Salmonella infections. Live poultry can be carrying Salmonella bacteria but appear healthy and clean, with no sign of illness.

10
Outbreaks

790
Cases

48
States

174
Hospitalizations

  • Since the last update on June 1, 2017, 418 more ill people have been reported. The most recent illness began on June 20, 2017.
  • CDC, multiple states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are investigating 10 separate multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections in people who had contact with live poultry in backyard flocks.
    • These outbreaks are caused by several DNA fingerprints of different Salmonella bacteria: Salmonella Braenderup, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i-, Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Litchfield, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Muenchen, Salmonella Typhimurium.
  • The outbreak strains of Salmonella have infected a reported 790 people in 48 states and the District of Columbia.
    • Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 4, 2017 to June 20, 2017.
    • Of 580 people with available information, 174 ill people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
  • Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory findings link the 10 outbreaks to contact with live poultry, such as chicks and ducklings, from multiple hatcheries.
    • In interviews, 409 (74%) of 553 ill people reported contact with live poultry in the week before illness started.
  • Contact with live poultry or their environment can make people sick with Salmonella infections. Live poultry can be carrying Salmonella bacteria but appear healthy and clean, with no sign of illness.

8
Outbreaks

372
Cases

47
States

71
Hospitalizations

  • CDC, many state departments of health and agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are investigating eight multistate outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks.
    • These outbreaks are caused by several kinds of Salmonella bacteria: Salmonella Braenderup, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i-, Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Mbandaka, and Salmonella Typhimurium.
  • As of May 25, 2017, 372 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 47 states.
    • Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 4, 2017 to May 13, 2017.
    • 71 ill people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
    • 36% of ill people are children younger than 5 years.
  • Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory findings link the eight outbreaks to contact with live poultry, such as chicks and ducklings, which come from several hatcheries.
    • In interviews, 190 (83%) of 228 ill people reported contact with live poultry in the week before illness started.
    • People reported purchasing live baby poultry from several sources, including feed supply stores, websites, hatcheries, and from relatives.
  • Contact with live poultry and the areas where they live and roam can make people sick with Salmonella infections. Chicks, ducklings, and other live poultry that look healthy and clean can still carry Salmonella bacteria.
  • Outbreaks linked to contact with live poultry have increased in recent years as more people keep backyard flocks. In 2016, a record number of illnesses were linked to contact with backyard poultry.

Follow these steps for protecting yourself and others while enjoying your backyard flock:

  • Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Also wash your hands after handling clothes and shoes that have touched live poultry. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Do not let live 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.
    • Do not eat or drink in the area where the birds live or roam.
    • For information about how to keep birds safe outside in very hot or very cold weather, ask the hatchery or feed store where the bird was purchased. Another resource is your county extension officeExternal.
  • Set aside a pair of shoes to wear while taking care of poultry and keep those shoes outside of the house.
  • 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.
  • Do not snuggle or kiss the birds, touch your mouth, or eat or drink around live poultry.
  • Stay outdoors when cleaning any equipment or materials used to raise or care for live poultry, such as cages, feed, or water containers.
  • If you collect eggs from your hens, follow safe handling tips:
    • Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling eggs, chickens, or anything in their environment.
    • Collect eggs often. Eggs that spend a significant amount of time in the nest can become dirty or break. Cracked eggs should be thrown away.
    • Refrigerate eggs after collection.
    • Eggs with dirt and debris can be cleaned with fine sandpaper, a brush or cloth. Don’t wash eggs, because colder water can pull bacteria into the egg.
    • Cook eggs thoroughly. Raw and undercooked eggs may contain Salmonella bacteria that can make you sick.
  • Read CDC’s recommendations for taking care of your backyard flock, which apply to all live poultry, regardless of the age of the birds or where they were purchased.

Mail-order hatcheries should provide health-related information to owners and potential purchasers before they buy any birds (see example below). This should include information about preventing Salmonella infections from contact with live poultry.

  • A flier Cdc-pdf[PDF – 1 page] describing the risk of human Salmonella infections from contact with live poultry and prevention recommendations is available.

Mail-order hatcheries should put interventions in place to help prevent contamination and infection of poultry with Salmonella:

Mail-order hatcheries should participate in the USDA-NPIP U.S. Salmonella Monitored Program Cdc-pdf[PDF – 17 pages]External, in which voluntary participation by mail-order hatcheries will certify their flocks are monitored for Salmonella bacteria that may cause illness in humans. The intent of this program is to reduce the incidence of Salmonella in day-old poultry in the hatchery and give the poultry industry a better opportunity to reduce the incidence of Salmonella in their products.

Agricultural feed stores should take steps to prevent human Salmonella infections from contact with live poultry:

Outbreak Cases States Deaths Hospitalizations
2016: Live PoultrySalmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Muenster, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella Indiana, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Braenderup, Salmonella Infantis 895 48 3 209
2015: Live Poultry – Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella Indiana,and Salmonella Muenchen 252 43 0 63
2014: Live PoultrySalmonella Infantis and Salmonella Newport 363 43 0 120
2013: Live PoultrySalmonella Typhimurium 356 39 0 62
2013: Live PoultrySalmonella Infantis, Salmonella Lille, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Mbandaka 158 30 0 29
2012: Live PoultrySalmonella Hadar 46 11 0 13
2012: Live PoultrySalmonella Montevideo 93 23 1 21
2012: Live PoultrySalmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Lille 195 27 2 34
Tips to Stay Healthy with a Backyard Flock
  • Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry.
  • Do not let children younger than 5 years handle or touch chicks, ducklings, or other live poultry without adult supervision.

Read more about ways to stay healthy with backyard flocks. Read live poultry Q&A.