“Poultry are acquiring a new position in many households-instead of being treated as production animals, they are increasingly being considered household pets”, the study said, as per United Press International.
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The CDC compiled data from 1990 to 2014 and found that live poultry-associated outbreaks of salmonella accounted for 2,630 illnesses, 387 hospitalizations and 5 deaths.
“Chick and duckling exposure were reported by 85 percent and 38 percent of case-patients, respectively”, stated the CDC study’s abstract. However, “Currently, public health officials are identifying LPAS [or, live poultry-associated salmonellosis] outbreaks linked to backyard poultry flocks that are affecting adults and children”.
Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, and affects about 1 million people in the US every year.
A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows an uptick in salmonella cases due to more and more people keeping and raising chickens. A smaller percentage had taken it a step further and kissed the animals. The CDC says chickens should never be allowed inside one’s home and recommends that chicken guardians, especially children, who are at higher risk, wash their hands with soap and water after handling birds or anything they’ve touched.
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The CDC said in a study released Wednesday that the increased popularity of backyard chicken farms has led to an increase in salmonella infections. And health care workers, veterinarians, pediatricians, hatcheries, feed stores and other key players in this field need to spread the words about the risk.
